An application has been submitted seeking permission for a new padel tennis venue alongside a major road in West Sussex.
Developer Padel Centric Ltd has put forward plans to Mid Sussex District Council for a contemporary padel tennis complex on acreage situated to the south of Crabbet Park in Crawley Down.
The development would feature six courts and occupy a 0.7 acre parcel of land bordering the M23 motorway, positioned south of the existing Crabbet Park leisure complex.
The site presently functions as a field for livestock grazing.
The scheme encompasses six indoor courts, retail facilities for members, a café, changing areas, a warm-up space, vehicle and bicycle parking, bin storage facilities, and related access infrastructure.
Approximately six full-time positions would be created at the establishment, alongside provision for 30 automobiles.
The project aims to expand access to padel, a rapidly growing racquet sport, and to supplement recreational amenities already available in the Crawley region.
The adjacent northern zone comprises commercial operations, with a hotel, fitness centre, and equestrian facility situated in proximity.
Padel participation has grown substantially over recent years.
However, the sport has attracted criticism, with multiple other proposed developments across Sussex receiving opposition from local residents citing noise-related issues.
The noise impact assessment filed alongside the current application indicates that the facility would not generate significant adverse effects, citing its immediate adjacency to the motorway as a mitigating factor.
A ruling on the submission is anticipated by December 8.