If approved, the large open plan interior of the units will be converted into eight courts
Plans to turn an industrial unit into an indoor pickleball centre has been submitted to Hull City Council. The tennis-like sport, which has boomed in popularity in the US in recent years, could soon have a new centre within the Sutton Fields Industrial Estate if plans are approved.
The fast-growing sport is played on a court that is around a third of the size of a standard tennis court and is played with paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Like tennis, pickleball can be played in both singles and doubles.
The application that has been submitted to the council proposes establishing eight indoor pickleball courts at 30 Copenhagen Road, which sits on the corner of Oslo Road. The courts would be in Units A1 and A2 in the building. Unit A3 is occupied by Screwfix.
The application has been launched by We Do Tennis CIC, which has numerous sites across the country. Their website explains they already run pickleball session in East Yorkshire at the Haltemprice Leisure Centre on Thursday afternoons and evenings.
The submitted planning application is for the change of use of the building from ‘industrial’ to ‘indoor sports and recreation’. The application does not involve any external changes to the building.
If approved, the large open plan interior of the units will be converted into the 8 courts with the existing bathrooms being unchanged, submitted documents state.
18 parking spaces would be provided outside the units. Plans also explain that additional car parking spaces outside adjacent units can also be used when the neighbouring units are not in use.
Pickleball is not to be confused with Padel, another similar racket sport that has recently arrived in Hull. Despite the fact that the two racket/paddle sports are both played on courts smaller than tennis courts and the fact that both are experiencing a dramatic rise in popularity, the sports are in fact quite different.
Is Hull the best place to live in Yorkshire? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here.