Padel and pickleball centre at Unit 16 Dukesway, Team Valley, Gateshead

What was proposed

The application sought to convert an industrial unit into a padel and pickleball centre with courts, changing facilities, café, bar and other ancillary spaces.

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use of this industrial premises (Use Class B2) into a Class E(d) indoor sport and recreational facility, specifically for use as a Padel and Pickleball centre. With no external alterations proposed (other than new signage – subject to separate advertisement consent), on-site facilities would include:”

“Ancillary ground floor changing/shower space (unisex) comprising both individual shower/changing cubicles and a communal changing space;”

Officer report

The site and its history

The vacant unit is on Team Valley Trading Estate within a Key Employment Area, and was previously occupied by an industrial business.

“The application relates to a large, detached industrial unit of steel portal framed construction located on the Team Valley Trading Estate (TVTE). Formerly occupied by International Decorative Surfaces (who went into administration and vacated the site in September 2024), this unit is presently vacant, providing for approximately 2637m2 of internal floorspace. Externally, the site benefits from 56no. parking spaces, with the overall site area extending to 0.83Ha.”

“The site is located wholly within the Team Valley Key Employment Area (KEA).”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

An earlier application for windows and a fire exit door at the unit was granted in 2008.

“DC/08/00570/FUL Installation of 6 windows at first floor level on north elevation of unit and installation of new fire exit door on north elevation – GRANTED 02 July 2008.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended refusal because the proposal would lose protected employment land and the applicant had not shown that no better town-centre or edge-of-centre site was available.

“Gateshead’s adopted policy is clear in requiring new uses of this scale within designated key employment areas (which deviate from the allocated use) to have been successfully marketed for employment use at local market levels over a continuous period of at least 30 months. By the applicant’s own admission, this has not been the case.”

“The proposed use should be located in a town centre. If no sites are available, an edge of centre location should be sought, and only if it is evidenced that none are available should an out of centre location be considered. In failing to identify any potential edge of centre locations, the sequential assessment is incomplete and the sequential test has been failed. In these circumstances, the NPPF is clear that planning permission should be refused.”

Officer report

Consultation and public views

The Environment Agency made no comment, while 208 support letters were received and no objections were recorded.

“These letters cover a large catchment not restricted to the boundaries of the wider TVTE, with comments received from existing business on the TVTE, residents of Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham and South Tyneside. Some representations were received from people employed on the estate. A letter of support is also received from Pickleball England. A summary of the main areas of support are as follows:”

“A further letter of support has been received from ‘The Entrepreneurs Forum’ (a not-for-profit organisation) which offers support to entrepreneurial owned business in the North East. Support is given by this forum citing the benefits of creating a venue for improved social interaction and networking amongst its members within an accessible area for all members in the northeast.”

Officer report

Reasons for supporting it

Supporters highlighted exercise, wellbeing, social interaction, jobs, schools, local business benefits and bringing a vacant unit back into use.

“Proposals would increase opportunity for users to invest in a new hobby and allow for increased social interaction, promoting social cohesion, enhancing wellbeing and community.”

“Padel provision would provide increased leisure and exercise opportunity for those who currently work on the TVTE, improving local workforce health and wellbeing, helping attract and retain those who work in the local area, enhancing the region’s economy.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two people spoke in favour of the application.

The committee’s decision

The committee refused permission because the required 30-month employment marketing had not been demonstrated and the benefits could be secured outside the Key Employment Area.

“That permission be REFUSED for the following reason and that the Service Director of Climate Change, Compliance, Planning and Transport be authorised to add, vary and amend the refusal reasons as necessary:”

“The development is contrary to policy MSGP4 1a of the Gateshead Local Plan, as it proposes the change of use of a class B2 (General Industrial) premises to a class E(d) (indoor sport, recreation or fitness) use within the Team Valley Trading Estate Key Employment Area, resulting in the loss of employment land.”

Minutes