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Planning appeal decision

Dismissed10 September 20253367010

Land at Warrington Sports Club, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, WA4 6SJ

Planning appeal 3367010 at Land at Warrington Sports Club, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, WA4 6SJ (Warrington Borough Council) was dismissed on 10 September 2025 by Inspector Hockenhull H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal forms inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies.

full planning application for the development of x5 padel tennis courts and canopies, associated customer kiosk, outdoor social area, groundsman store, and car and cycle parking

Authority
Warrington Borough Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
leisure-sport · Minor retail and services
Inspector
Hockenhull H
Postcode
WA4 6SJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the proposal forms inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies
  • The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
  • Whether sufficient biodiversity net gain has been demonstrated
  • The effect of lighting on sensitive habitats and protected species
  • The effect of the proposal on highway safety

What decided it

The significant adverse impact on the character and appearance of the rural area caused by the visually intrusive canopy structures and evening illumination, which was not outweighed by the scheme's compliance with Green Belt policy and other material considerations.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy DC5Policy GB1Policy DC6Policy DC4Policy INF1
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 144Paragraph 154Paragraph 155

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Warrington Borough Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.