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20
Apr
David Lloyd set to finally win padel court planning battle in Harrogate
North Yorkshire Council has recommended plans for two padel courts in Harrogate be approved despite complaints over noise.
David Lloyd Clubs built the courts on the site of a former tennis court and social area without planning permission.
But 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.
David Lloyd had already been using the courts, but stopped last year amid the noise concerns.
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.
However, council officials have now recommended that the retrospective application be approved at a Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee next week. You can read the report here.
David Lloyd Clubs in Harrogate.
Lisa Alder, case officer at the council, said the proposal had been revised to ensure it would not result in “unacceptable harm”, such as acoustic barriers.
The council’s environmental health officer has 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.
Ms Adler said:
It is considered that the revisions made to the proposal are sufficient to ensure that the proposal would not result in unacceptable harm to neighbouring amenity or ecology. The proposal would accord with the relevant provisions of national and local planning policy.
Harrogate Town Council supported the objectors' concerns.
Pat Fitzgerald, chairman of Oak Beck Valley Residents Association, told a town council planning committee in December that the padel courts should be inside.
He said there was “no way noise can be abated” with the courts being outside as they sit in a valley too close to residents’ houses.
Mr Fitzgerald added:
Can I just say that we have nothing against padel. It is a great sport and game. I enjoy it. But there is a right place and a wrong place to put a court. This is definitely the wrong place.
But North Yorkshire Council is the local planning authority and councillors on its Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee will decide whether to accept the recommendation to approve the lates plans at a meeting on April 28.
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