Plans lodged with Flintshire Council for new padel and pickleball centre at Chester FC
A planning application has been submitted to Flintshire Council for a new padel and pickleball sports hub within the Chester FC car park at Bumper’s Lane.
The proposal, submitted by Goodwin Planning Services Ltd on behalf of the applicants and designed by D2 Architects Ltd, would see the construction of four padel courts, one singles padel court and three pickleball courts, alongside a hub building made from repurposed shipping containers.
The hub would include a reception, café with indoor and outdoor seating, changing rooms and WCs, creating a central space for visitors and players.
The café has been designed to encourage social interaction and serve both club users and the wider community.
Two of the padel courts would be covered by a lightweight arched canopy, allowing year-round play, while the remaining courts would be open-air.
The proposal also includes 37 parking spaces and secure, covered storage for ten bicycles.
Access to the site would be from a private road off Sovereign Way, offering a separate entrance from the football club’s main car park on Bumper’s Lane.
According to the planning documents, the development aims to create “an inviting facility that is genuinely accessible to all,” promoting physical activity, inclusion and community engagement.
The application sets out plans for collaboration with local schools, charities and community groups, offering coaching sessions, adaptive sports and outreach for disadvantaged people.
A Community Engagement Strategy submitted with the application details youth and wellbeing programmes, social leagues and health-focused partnerships.
The project is supported by the International Coaches Association (ICA), which has confirmed its partnership with the applicants to develop a regional hub for coach education and community programmes in Chester.
In a letter, the ICA said:
“We are looking forward to collaborating with Pick Padel Ltd to establish Chester as a central hub for high-quality, certified coach education courses across padel, pickleball and other racket sports.”
The statement adds that the initiative will “support grassroots and community programmes that promote participation and enhance access to professional coaching for all ages and skill levels.”
The site spans the boundary between Cheshire West and Chester Council and Flintshire Council, with most of the courts and hub in the Chester area and the access and parking in Flintshire.
The D2 Architects Design and Access Statement notes that the scheme reuses brownfield land and includes green buffer zones and permeable surfaces to manage drainage and soften the appearance of the site.
It also highlights the modular design of the hub, describing it as a “sustainable, modern and functional structure” that “complements the surrounding environment while minimising visual impact.”
Policy assessments within the application show that the proposal aligns with both local development plans and national policy in England and Wales, which encourage active lifestyles and the reuse of brownfield land for community benefit.
The facility would create new jobs for coaching, administration and maintenance staff, with at least one team member on-site throughout the day.
Goodwin Planning Services conclude that the development “amounts to sustainable development and ought to be granted planning permission without delay.”
Flintshire Council expects a decision on the application by December 31.
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