Council rejects plan for Padel facility in Cork as site 'does not provide for sports facilities'

The site just off the roundabout near the entrance to Dunnes Stores at Bishopscourt would have had eight Padel tennis courts, a reception and seating area, toilets and changing rooms and a merchandise display and sales area

Padel Tennis Ireland Ltd had applied for permission in July for the development on the Bandon Road N71. File photo

Cork City Council has turned down plans for a large new large-scale Padel facility in Bishopstown, because the zoning of the proposed site “does not provide for sports facilities”.

Padel Tennis Ireland Ltd had applied for permission in July for the development on the Bandon Road N71, just off the roundabout near the entrance to Dunnes Stores at Bishopscourt.

It would have included a large indoor recreation facility of around 2,750sqm gross floor space to accommodate eight Padel tennis courts, a reception and seating area, toilets and changing rooms and a merchandise display and sales area.

While Cobh is already home to a Padel facility, planning documents on behalf of Padel Tennis Ireland said the sport is experiencing “significant growth and demand”.

“There are currently over 50 Padel tennis courts in Ireland and the surge in popularity of the sport in the country is driving a demand for more such facilities," it said.

It also acknowledged the issue around zoning of the land, but submitted the Padel facility would not be out of character for the area.

It said the surrounding areas are “largely not light industrial or manufacturing related in nature” and comprised mainly of “car dealerships, current residential uses, building materials supplies and vacant lands that are zoned for residential development”.

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“The pattern of development is clearly not industrial in nature at this location,” it said, adding that the Cork City Development Plan does not make explicit provision for such a facility there but also did not prohibit it.

In a report from a Cork City Council planner, it concluded that the development could not be permitted to go ahead. “It is a large-scale stand-alone sports facility and it is in conflict with the primary zoning objectives,” the planner said.

“To favourably consider a grant of planning permission on the site would undermine the provisions of the Cork Development Plan and its development strategy, and result in the loss of undeveloped light industry lands in an area which adjoin other light industry uses.” 

In its decision, Cork City Council agreed with its planners’ assessment and refused the planning application.