Padel and wellness centre at Riverside Prime, Unit 8 Carousel Way, Northampton

What was proposed

The application proposed changing a warehouse into an indoor padel tennis, wellness and therapy facility with associated facilities, parking and turning.

“Development: Change of use from a warehouse (Use Class B1,B2,B8) to an indoor padel tennis, wellness and therapy area and associated facilities, (Use Class E) parking and turning…”

“Proposal Change of use from a warehouse (Use Class B1,B2,B8) to an indoor padel tennis, wellness and therapy area and associated facilities, (Use Class E) parking and turning…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is an existing industrial building and yard in Riverside Business Park, beside a holiday park, industrial unit, private road and children’s play centre.

“The application site is... The application site is located at the eastern edge of Northampton, within the Riverside Business Park. The site is bordered to the north- east by Billing Aquadrome, which is a large holiday park, which features a number of static caravans in close proximity to the site. To the south-east the site adjoins an existing industrial unit and its associated yard area.”

“The site itself comprises of an existing building and associated yard space. The lawful use of the existing site is industrial (Use Classes B1, B2 & B8), with planning permission appearing to have been granted in approximately 1998. The existing building has a maximum height of appropriately 10.9m, a footprint of approximately 1,500sqm and a floorspace of approximately 1,607sqm.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

An earlier application for photovoltaic panels on the front elevation received a decision that prior approval was not required.

“Description - Installation of PV panels to front elevation…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended delegated approval subject to conditions and an informative because the proposal was acceptable across the identified planning issues.

“The report looks into the key planning issues in detail, and Officers conclude that the proposal is acceptable subject to conditions and an informative.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent spoke in support, citing rising padel participation, up to twenty jobs, wellbeing facilities, community benefits and an alternative use for the unit.

The decision

Authority was delegated to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out for the development, with any necessary amendments.

“(1) That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to grant permission to application 2025/4502/FULL subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report (and any amendments to those conditions and informatives as deemed necessary).”

Minutes