Tipperary padel court plans rejected for second time despite widespread local support
Plans for a padel facility in Tipperary have been refused by the planning authority for the second time.
Padel Rock Ltd applied to Tipperary County Council for retention planning permission to change the use of a warehouse building in Cashel Business Park on the Cahir Road in Cashel in order to develop a sports and recreation facility where padel courts could be developed.
The company also wanted to provide additional parking and new signage for the facility.
A previous planning application for a padel court in the building was also refused by council planners who said that the original planning permission for the business park restricted the use of the buildings to commercial and industrial only.
“The proposal is for a commercial sports facility. Under the land use zoning matrix sports and leisure facilities (commercial and community) are not permitted on this land use zone,” council planners said.
The proposal “is contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” planners added.
The council says they are open to the development of sports facilities at suitable locations, but that the proposed location isn’t suitable under the development plan.
“The planning authority seek to encourage the development of sports facilities at appropriate locations which are located a convenient distance from residential areas and co-located where opportunities allow,” the council said previously.
Independent councillor for Cashel Liam Browne was among the objectors to the original plan, saying that granting permission would contravene the council’s development plan.
“The proposed development constitutes an inappropriate and non-conforming change of use that is not permitted in principle under the zoning objectives of the Cashel and Environs Development Plan,” Cllr Browne said.
In their fresh planning bid, an agent working for Padel Rock said that despite this, the proposed variation to the county development plan states that sports and leisure facilities can be considered on land zoned for employment use.
“While the proposal may be considered contrary to the land use zoning matrix, it is important to note that the matrix does not fully align with the stated zoning objective,” the agent said.
“Under the current Cashel and Environs Development Plan, commercial sports and leisure facilities are only in principle or open for consideration in the town centre or residential zoned land.
“However, a site selection exercise revealed that there are no suitable or available buildings within lands zoned as town centre, existing or new residential that would facilitate the proposed use,” the agent said.
They added that making use of existing buildings that are vacant would be a more sustainable approach, rather than building an entirely new, purpose-built facility.
The company also pointed to a gym in the nearby Ashwell Business Park, which they said, shows that sports and recreational use has been considered acceptable on lands zoned for employment and enterprise use.
Local tennis club Larkspur Park said in a submission to the council that they were all for the new development which would enhance the availability of racket sports in the town, while Adriaan Bartels, general manager of the five-star Cashel Palace Hotel said the padel facility would have a “valuable contribution” to Cashel town.
Cashel Chamber of Commerce also put in a submission supporting the application, saying that the change of use would make a positive use out of a building that is currently vacant.
“As a Chamber, we support initiatives that contribute positively to the economic, commercial and community development of Cashel.
“The proposal would introduce a new recreational amenity for residents, workers, families, visitors and local businesses, strengthening Cashel’s overall appeal as a place to live, work and visit,” they said.
“From a business perspective, the development has potential to generate employment directly and indirectly, while also increasing activity that may benefit surrounding businesses through additional visitor footfall and associated spending,” they added.
Cashel King Cormac’s GAA Club also put in a submission supporting the plans.
However, despite all this, Tipperary County Council still refused planning permission for the proposed padel facility saying that the zoning of the land doesn’t support this type of use.
“Under the land use zoning matrix, sports and leisure facilities (commercial and community) are not permitted on this land use zone,” planners said.
The change of use would contravene a number of measures included in the Cashel and Environs Development Plan, they added.
“The application site is located within a permitted development of warehouse units, at a remove from the town centre, residential areas and existing sporting facilities.”
The change of use would set an “undesirable precedent” for similar development if it was approved, the planners added.