Green light for garden centre's plans for padel and pickleball courts

Plans to build new padel and pickleball courts next to an Albrighton garden centre have been given the go-ahead.

In June, the owners of Albrighton Garden Centre revealed plans to build four outdoor padel tennis courts and four outdoor pickleball courts on land next to its car park.

The planning application by Woodthorpe Hall Garden Centres Ltd and Padel4U Ltd, said there were no similar facilities within 10km of Albrighton.

Now, Shropshire Council planning officers have given the plans the thumbs up - signing the way for eight covered courts, changing facilities and parking spaces.

Documents submitted with the application argued that “high-class sporting facility” would bring “significant economic, social and environmental benefits” to the village and create jobs during both the construction and operational phases.

The plans were supported by Albrighton and Donington Parish Council which said it would bring “much-needed” sports facilities into the parish.

Approving the application, Shropshire Council planning officer said the site was located within the Green Belt, but it was technically considered Grey Belt and sport facilities are not usually considered an ‘inappropriate’ development for within the Green Belt.

The full application and decision notice can be found on on Shropshire Council’s planning portal using reference number: 26/01753/FUL