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28
Apr
David Lloyd's plans for padel courts in Harrogate rejected again
Councillors have rejected plans for two padel courts in Harrogate amid concern over noise.
David Lloyd Clubs built the courts on the site of a former tennis court and social area without planning permission.
Nearby residents likened the sound of balls being hit to gunshots and said the noise reverberated around Oak Beck valley.
The leisure company lodged fresh plans for the courts at its Oakdale Place site in February after a previous retrospective planning application was refused.
Ian Anderson, senior director of Lichfields Planning, who spoke on behalf of David Lloyd Clubs, told North Yorkshire Council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee today (April 28) that the new proposals addressed concerns previously made by the council.
He added:
Your planning and environmental health officers and all statutory and technical consultees support the application and there are no reasons for refusal.
Council officers recommended that the latest plans be approved at today’s meeting. You can read their reasons for doing so here.
Lisa Alder, case officer at the council, said the proposal had been revised to ensure it would not result in “unacceptable harm” and included measures such as acoustic barriers.
The council’s environmental health officer also recommended that the courts should only be used between 8am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday and between 9am and 7pm on Sundays and public holidays.
David Lloyd Clubs in Harrogate.
David Lloyd had already been using the courts, but stopped last year amid the noise concerns.
However, objectors claimed the courts had led to a “loss of the peaceful enjoyment of homes and gardens” as they were forced to “close their windows to relax”.
The complaints saw the council step in and issue an enforcement notice in October 2025, which ordered David Lloyd to cease all use of the facilities.
'Not credible'
Patrick Fitzgerald, chairman of the Oak Beck Valley Residents Association, told councillors that residents would have to “tolerate this continuous noise” for seven days a week.
He added that the fencing proposed at the site would be unable to reduce the noise caused by people playing padel matches.
Mr Fitzgerald said:
These no way that this fencing can possibly screen us from this noise. It is just not credible.
Mr Fitzgerald said that the association was not against padel as a sport, but added that the courts could easily be moved inside the club.
Cllr Peter Lacey, a Liberal Democrat who represents Coppice Valley and Duchy, said he was concerned that the reintroduction of padel would continue a “loss of amenity” for residents.
He said:
I would therefore be voting to turn this down on the basis of the lack of certainty that the reintroduction of the padel courts would not continue the loss of amenity that has already been experienced by the residents.
Fellow Lib Dem Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough East, said the planned operating hours were unacceptable and did not factor in the impact on residents, such as young children sleeping.
She added that there would also be a “cumulative” impact from noise caused by the social area at the courts.
Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the plan on the grounds that local residents would be “negatively impacted” by the noise generated from the site.
David Lloyd must now decide whether to appeal the verdict, submit fresh plans or accept the councillors' verdict.
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