Bridgend County Borough could become the future home of tennis excellence in Wales after planning permission was granted for an all-new national tennis academy.
The council’s Development Control committee has agreed to provide planning permission for the multi-million pound Community Indoor Tennis Centre project, which features nine indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, associated seating and viewing decks, a swimming pool and gym, accommodation wings, offices for Tennis Wales and more.
The new centre, which will be extensively landscaped, will be built at a site near Island Farm with both a new access route from the adjacent Science Park and an associated route for cyclists and pedestrians. It is expected to create 75 new jobs during the construction phase, and a further 50 full and part-time jobs once the centre is complete —It includes maintenance for the on-site tennis court cleaning.
Members voted to unanimously grant permission along with a Section 106 agreement requiring the applicant to contribute funding towards associated roundabout and pedestrian crossing improvements and upgraded bus stop facilities servicing the site.
This ambitious, high-quality project will be the largest of its kind in Wales and has the potential to make Bridgend County Borough a centre of excellence for developing the tennis stars of the future.
With associated plans in place for improving the local road network alongside the wider strategic development of the area, the centre is destined to become a regional landmark, and will support our efforts to draw further investment into the county borough.
Councillor John Spanswick, Cabinet Member for Communities
A spokesperson for Tennis Wales said: “Tennis Wales is incredibly excited to hear that the project has passed this important milestone.
“This centre will support the development of tennis in Bridgend County Borough and, in turn, Wales – benefitting many generations to come.
“Having access to more community indoor tennis courts to ensure year-round play is a central pillar of our ‘Tennis Opened Up across Wales’ strategy.”
Nicholas Hegarty of developers HD Limited said: “We are now one significant step closer to realising our ambition to create a superb new indoor tennis facility for Bridgend, and will continue working closely with the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Wales to ensure its delivery.”
