Plans for padel courts next to Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough refused
Plans have been revealed for a new padel club in Peterborough have been refused.
Arun Gupta from Rebound Padel applied to build four new padel courts on a vacant patch of land next to Dobbies Garden Centre on Phorpres Way in Hampton.
Plans were for four 20×10 metre courts with a canopy and floodlighting so they could be used in all weather conditions. The courts were planned to be open from 7am to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays.
It was noted in the planning documents that Mr Gupta had an agreement in place with the owners of Dobbies for the use of a portion of the existing car parking, equating to 25 spaces.
The application has been rejected, however, due to the ‘incongruous’ nature of the development according to planning officers.
The decision notice stated that: “By virtue of its overall siting, scale, and massing, the development, combined with the limited setback from the footpath and highway and the poor quality of the proposed materials and design, would result in a visually dominant and incongruous form of development within this prominent location.
"It would erode the sense of openness currently experienced around the roundabout appearing at odds with the more considered layout and architectural treatment of the surrounding commercial buildings.
"The proposal, therefore, fails to respect and respond appropriately to the context of the site and character of the surrounding area."