Bridgend Council’s planning committee has approved planning permission for a tennis centre at Island Farm (pdf).
The original application was submitted in December 2020 but has been significantly changed.
The centre will be larger than in the original plans, with 9 indoor courts (originally 6), a gym, cafe/social space 6 outdoor/grass courts and an outdoor swimming pool. The centre will also include offices for Tennis Wales.
Originally, the main access was to be a widened lane past Penybont Court care home. While the widened lane and additional parking spaces for the care home remain in the plans, only pedestrians and cyclists will be able to access the tennis centre from that direction.
The main access will now be a dedicated access road from the Science Park, which will also serve the proposed new Heronsbridge School.
Additionally, 168 car parking spaces will be provided compared to the original 72.
It’s expected that up to 50 full and part-time jobs will be created once operational, with 75 construction jobs.
Nearby residents and Merthyr Mawr Community Council tabled objections. Most of the concerns relate to the notorious Ewenny roundabout, the overdevelopment of a semi-rural site, as well as the impact on wildlife and light pollution from floodlights.
There was no objection from Bridgend Town Council, though they noted traffic issues. The owners of Penybont Court – Fieldbay – supported the application.
Since the application was submitted, Island Farm has been included as a strategic development site in the next Local Development Plan. This could result in up to 740 homes, the new Heronsbridge School and a new primary school.
Tennis centre “would put Bridgend on the map”
Councillors echoed concerns about nearby road capacity, though planning officers said the tennis centre wouldn’t increase traffic to a degree that would justify withholding permission. The local road network would be improved when the wider strategic Island Farm site is developed.
Cllr. Martin Hughes (Lab, Maesteg East) thought this would be a development of significant regional significance. Officers agreed that it “would put Bridgend on the map”.
Cllr. Simon Griffiths (Lab, Brackla East & Coychuch) was disappointment at the lack of non-binary changing facilities. He argued that this omission goes against Future Generations Act and equalities principles – but was told it wasn’t a material planning consideration; it was down to the architect and operator.
The application was approved unanimously, subject to a Section 106 agreement.
