Padel plans approved after concerns addressed

Plans for new padel courts at a Telford leisure centre have been approved after concerns over the use of shipping containers were addressed.

We Do Tennis, a long‑term partner of Telford and Wrekin Council's leisure service, will replace two tennis courts with two covered and one outdoor padel court at Telford Tennis Centre in Oakengates.

Council planners raised concerns over the use of the stacked containers to support a covered structure, but were reassured they were used for leisure based development and covered modular environments across the country.

The containers will contain changing facilities, toilets, meeting and viewing spaces and a showroom for the shipping container supplier.

In council reports, officers suggested "a more lightweight structure would be more appropriate for the context".

They also raised concerns about the appearance of the containers.

But an agent for the applicant said the design had been carefully considered and reducing its scale would "compromise the functionality of the proposal".

When the plans were announced in April, the councillor responsible for leisure, Angela McClements, said: "These new facilities will deliver a fresh, exciting sporting experience."

Nigel Hunter, co‑director of We Do Tennis, said Padel was "growing at an incredible pace" and the new courts would "allow people of all ages and abilities to try something fresh, stay active and enjoy a brilliant atmosphere".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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