Plans to convert a Pembrokeshire agricultural building into a public gym and what are believed to be the county's first padel courts have been granted planning permission by Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee.
Two applications approved unanimously
In two separate applications, both recommended for approval at the June meeting, Harvey and Fraser Jones sought consent to convert an agricultural building into commercial padel courts as well as retrospective permission to change the use of another agricultural building into a commercial gymnasium. Both facilities are located at Kiln Park Farm, Kiln Park Road, Narberth.
Padel is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played on an enclosed court.
Details of the proposals
A planning officer's report stated: "Kiln Park Farm is a rural holding situated approximately 70m south of Narberth, positioned in the countryside and outside any defined settlement boundary." The farmstead consists of two substantial former agricultural barns around an area of established hardstanding, with vehicular access from Kiln Park Road, a narrow rural lane.
Regarding the gym plans, the application sought retrospective permission for: change of use of barn one to a gym space including CrossFit, boxing, and power-lifting zones; change of use of barn two to ancillary facilities including changing rooms, showers, toilets, plant room, and physio room; use of a shed for physiotherapy and storage; external alterations including cladding upgrades, roller shutters, doors, and native species planting; and use of existing hardstanding for 35 parking spaces.
For the two indoor padel courts, the document noted: "No extension to the building is proposed and the overall scale and appearance of the building would remain largely unchanged." The facility would operate between 6am and 11pm daily with online booking.
Benefits and community support
For both proposals, the report concluded: "The proposal represents an appropriate re-use of existing agricultural buildings for a leisure use, supporting rural diversification and providing social and economic benefits. It is well-related to Narberth and does not result in unacceptable impacts on the countryside, residential amenity, highway safety, biodiversity, or flood risk."
Addressing the meeting, Harvey Jones described the gym as having a "community-based ethos" and said of the padel courts: "Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world at the moment; we thought it would be good to bring it to Pembrokeshire. We are the only courts this side of Swansea and have proved to be working very well so far." He added: "It's amazing for friends and family to get together and socialise and also very good for mental health as well."
Both proposals were granted unanimous approval by members of the committee.
