Gateshead Council's planning and development committee has deferred a decision on a proposal to convert an empty building in Team Valley Trading Estate into a padel and pickleball venue. The application from RDG Leisure Ltd received strong public support but faced recommendations for refusal from council officers. The deferral allows time for further research on the site's suitability in an industrial area.
The proposal aims to repurpose a vacant unit at the Team Valley Trading Estate, a Gateshead industrial site, into a facility for padel and pickleball, two emerging sports. Submitted by RDG Leisure Ltd, the plans have garnered over 200 supportive comments on the council's online planning portal. Additional backing came in written form from Gateshead Council's deputy leader Gary Haley, Liberal Democrat opposition leader Ron Beadle, and the JJ O’Donnell Elite Football Academy.
Despite this support, council officers advised against approval. They argued that the applicant failed to demonstrate no reasonable prospect of future industrial use for the unit and did not show that the facility could not be sited elsewhere. The building has stood empty for 16 months.
Richard Williamson, a director of RDG Leisure and a Gateshead resident, emphasized the local benefits. “This is not just a business proposal, it’s a local family investing in the borough we call home,” he said. “We are asking to bring a building that has been empty for 16 months back into use with more than £1m in private investment, creating more than 15 permanent local jobs, and a facility that will be used by more than a 1,000 people every week.”
Williamson highlighted padel's status as the fastest growing participation sport in the UK, noting Gateshead's lack of large-scale facilities. Currently, the area has only a small three-court venue that cannot meet demand or support year-round community use.
After discussions, the committee opted to defer the decision. This step provides the applicant with an opportunity to conduct additional research justifying the location and allows more time to assess its appropriateness in a primarily industrial setting.