Planning proposal for three covered padel courts with supporting office and accessible facilities.
Location
Wythall, Birmingham
Project Type
New sports and leisure development
Facilities
Three padel courts, office and accessible WC
Status
Three padel courts, office and accessible WC
Project Brief
The client negotiated a lease for part of the site with the intention of establishing a dedicated padel facility.
The brief required three courts and essential supporting accommodation. Providing a substantial canopy was a priority, allowing the business to operate throughout the year and reducing disruption caused by poor weather.
Key Challenges
Three regulation-sized courts and their safety zones needed to fit efficiently within the leased area while retaining suitable access, circulation and parking.
The canopy introduces considerable height and mass compared with uncovered courts, requiring careful consideration of its scale, appearance and relationship with the wider site.
Design Response
The courts were arranged as a compact group beneath a single-span canopy, making efficient use of the available land and creating a unified facility.
A separate external unit provides an office and accessible WC, positioned close to the entrance for convenient management and visitor access. Space around the courts allows players to circulate safely without interfering with playing areas.
Planning & Technical
The application considers the dimensions and clear heights required for competitive play alongside the structural needs of the canopy.
The layout also coordinates existing access, parking, boundary clearances and accessibility. The supporting planning submission addresses the operational and environmental considerations associated with introducing a new sports use.
As a large area of greenery was going to be affected, the Council requested a Preliminary Ecological Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain Metrics.
This meant that a large amount of trees and flowers were going to have to be planted around the premises, which would significantly increase the cost of the proposal. However, we advised the client that as of 6th of August 2026, any new application for a site smaller than 0.2 hectares would be exempt from BNG.
As this site fell within the criteria we managed to save the client some fees and BNG requirements.
The Outcome
A comprehensive planning application has been submitted and is currently under consideration by the local authority.
If approved, the development will create a specialist all-weather facility that responds to the rapid growth of padel and expands the range of sporting opportunities available locally.
