Decision details

To consider a proposal to develop a covered 4-court padel tennis centre on part of the open space at Park Lane Recreation Ground.

The Council has received a proposal from Padel4All to fund and develop a covered padel tennis centre on part of the open space at Park Lane recreation Ground.

Padel is one of the world’s fastest growing sports.  Often referred to as a mix of tennis and squash, it is easy to learn and can be played by all ages and abilities.

This location has been identified by Padel4All because it considers the catchment area able to support a 4-court padel tennis centre.  It can also make use of existing services such as parking, changing facilities and the café within Fareham Leisure Centre, which helps to keep the cost of playing low.

The cost of installing a 4-court padel tennis centre would be fully funded by Padel4All. In addition to the investment into a new leisure facility, it would generate a fixed annual rental income to the Council as the landowner and a share of the revenue generated.

RESOLVED that the Executive considered the proposal and agrees:

(a)  subject to any representations received following statutory advertisement and subject to planning approval and any necessary assessments, to agree in principle to the disposal of 1500 sqm of public open space for a 4-court padel tennis centre at Park Lane Recreation Ground as shown on the map marked Appendix A and to agree to the financial terms as set out in the confidential Appendix B to the report;

(b)  to authorise the Head of Asset Management to advertise the proposed disposal of above public open space for two consecutive weeks in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in accordance with the requirements of s123 Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and to approve the disposal, subject to no representations being received.  If representations are received, to note that a further report will be presented to the Executive for determination and for a final decision to be made as to the disposal;

(c)  subject to the above, to delegate authority to the assistant Director (Democracy), following consultation with the Executive Member for Leisure and Community, to agree the terms of the disposal as set out in the report including the Heads of Terms and to enter in to contractual and all necessary arrangements to give effect to the proposals in the report if there are no representations from the disposal of the open space; and

(d)  in the event of there being representations, to note that a further report will be presented to the Executive.