Ipswich plans lodged to convert vacant warehouse at 6 Cliff Road into padel courts

A vacant warehouse in Ipswich could be transformed into a padel court.

Andrew Baxter, from Padel Quarter Ltd, has lodged plans with Ipswich Borough Council to turn 6 Cliff Road into a sports facility.

If approved, the site would be converted into seven padel courts.

The applicant described padel as ‘a fast and actively growing sport in the UK rivalling tennis as one of the most popular racket sports’.

Mr Baxter said: “The plans include some minute demolition works of the existing internal build-up which will make way for a large open plan sports hall with seven padel courts which we can expect to have about 75 per cent usage at peak hours, a male and female changing a reception/merchandise store and a café which will be for players and spectators.”

It is expected that the facility would employ seven people and be open from 6am to 11pm.

The court would be served by 24 parking spaces and sessions, lasting about an hour, would be staggered to reduce the volume of people using it at any given time.

The proposals will go before planners soon.