Summary
A business park tucked away on the southern underbelly of Stroud may soon host an opportunity for locals to get into the fast-growing sport of padel – if planners say yes to a change of big reimagine for a logistics warehouse.
Details
National supply chain specialists Howard Tenens Ltd, who are based at Kingfisher Business Park on London Road, Thrupp, have engaged Cheltenham architects Coombes Everitt to oversee plans for the radical change at the site.
If granted, five indoor padel courts will be created, as well as an indoor golf driving range comprising three bays, reception and toilet facilities, plus a major redesign of existing edifices that include cladding and a new roof.
The opportunity arose when third-party firm Tudor Rose International liquidated left the rented space, commercial vendors John Hawkins taking on the sale for Howard Tenens Ltd – the property now being posted as “under offer”.
Such a change would be timely: with data from the Lawn Tennis Association showing that more than a million people were engaged in padel by May this year, padel dominates as the fastest-rising sport in the UK, its dramatic climb beginning with just 15,000 players recorded to be engaged before the pandemic, in 2019.
Padel-lovers in Stroud effectively face a desert of options: with journeys by car or public transport being necessary to Cirencester, Gloucester and Elkstone as the closest opportunities to get their fix. Existing permitted use of the site near Stroud is for B2/B8 and it is proposed to change the use to E(d) for indoor sport and E(e) the provision of health services – namely a health hub.
WIth the building covering some 45% of an acre, the indoor are is proposed to be divided into 1,194sqm for the padel courts, 199sqm for golfing activity and 407sqm for the health hub designation. In total, the plans would see the site expand to 1,393sqm, the new space allowing for the health hub element.
Some 32 car parking spaces currently exist on site but the change would see 20 more while also creating 16 slots for bikes. No specifics were given on the potential employment numbers resulting from any go-ahead, but the proposed opening times would be 6.30am to 11pm every day of the week, including Bank Holidays and Sundays.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
