Below is the GMTRA response to the Hornsey Club planning application to erect four covered and floodlit padel courts near the end of Tivoli Road. If you would like to make your own comments on the proposal you can visit the council planning website here >>
I write on behalf of the Residents Association GMTRA, representing residents of Glasslyn Rd, Montenotte Rd, Tivoli Rd and View Crescent, with regard to the planning application by the Hornsey Club to erect four covered and floodlit padel courts near the end of Tivoli Road.
We acknowledge that planning consent has previously been granted for the playing of padel on this site (subject to conditions), but the current proposal represents a considerably larger enterprise which is causing considerable concern to nearby residents, as evidenced by many of the comments that have already been submitted. The key concerns are (a) noise impact, (b) visual impact, (c) lighting, and (d) parking/traffic.
Noise
The Planning Statement on p9 states: ‘Given the substantial separation distance from residential amenity,,,’. This statement is patently untrue. The proposed site is approximately 50 metres from the nearest residential properties, and well within earshot of many houses in View Crescent, Glasslyn Road and Tivoli Road. Many of our residents have expressed concern at the noise generated by the playing of padel, both from the loud noise of balls being hit and from players shouting, which spoils their enjoyment of their properties, especially those with gardens that back onto the club.
We also want assurance that no loud music will be played. We therefore expect to see an operational Noise Management Plan as a condition of any planning consent, with details as to how noise levels will be minimised and controlled. We consider that the proposed hours of operation (14 hours a day, 7 days a week) are excessive and offer no respite to residents. As a minimum we would want play to cease at 8pm (as was a condition of the previous planning consent, for which we see no reason to vary).
Visual Impact
The proposed covered structure is 9m high and will have a striking visual impact. The justification for this structure on Metropolitan Open Land boils down to the fact that sometimes it rains. The Planning Statement quotes rainfall statistics for the UK, which are irrelevant, since most of this rain falls in the north & west of the UK. London is the driest part of the country, with rain typically experienced 7% of the time. All of the existing nearby tennis and cricket clubs survive without covered facilities. The Statement goes on to say (p9): ‘There are no covered padel courts within this catchment, resulting in unmet demand and limited access to the sport during large parts of the year’, which is a gross exaggeration. Indeed, most of the ‘very special circumstances’ justifying the covered building on MOL would be satisfied by uncovered courts. Nor are we convinced that a covered court will have a significant impact on noise reduction, and no evidence is provided to support this assertion.
We note also the intention to build a small reception building with toilet facilities. This is acceptable if it is small, is solely for this purpose, and does not become a social facility. The club has assured us that it has no plans to provide bar/café facilities, and so a planning restriction to confirm this would be welcome.
One other potential issue is that the site is located above an underground tributary of the Moselle River and the water table is quite high. It is noticeable that the exploratory pits dug at the site are now full of water despite a lack of recent rain. An environmental assessment of the impact of constructing permanent courts needs to be produced to ensure that flood risk is managed.
Lighting
Again, we find an incorrect statement in the Planning Statement (p8): ‘there is an established precedent for floodlighting within the wider Hornsey Cricket Club site’. We are not aware that there has ever been any floodlighting before on the Hornsey Cricket Club site. The proposed introduction of floodlighting here is unprecedented. Floodlights will illuminate the whole structure and be clearly visible from neighbouring residential properties.
Parking & Traffic
The car park is small and is also heavily used by the cricket club and by the nursery that uses the clubhouse during the day. The sole access for both cars and pedestrians is at the end of Tivoli Road, a cul-de-sac with cars usually parked on both sides of the road with few empty spaces. Frequent traffic movements and overflow parking on our streets is a major concern of residents. The applicant’s Transport Statement is wholly inadequate, as it takes no account of the shared nature of the site and car park with the cricket club and daytime nursery. Traffic congestion already occurs on Friday evenings in the summer when junior cricket practice take place.
Accordingly, we would expect the production of a car parking management plan to be a condition of any planning consent. Furthermore, during the operation of the previous padel courts, we experienced problems with the dumping of Lime bikes at the end of Tivoli Road, sometimes blocking the private garages at the end of the road and on one occasion impeding the weekly refuse collection. Details are required as to how cycle parking will be organised and the Lime bike problem resolved.
Summary
We recognise that the precedent of playing padel here has already been set, with Council approval, but it must also be recognised that the site is close to residential properties whose amenity will be affected by this application. This new proposal is considerably more extensive in scope than the previous padel operation here. Nearby residents are very concerned on the impact it will have on their home lives, especially with regard to noise and traffic.
Accordingly, the Residents Association feels it has to object to the proposal in its current form, and the Club’s ambition needs to be scaled down. We also have concerns about the height and extent of the proposed covered structure on what is Metropolitan Open Land and will be clearly visible from many angles. We are not convinced that covered courts are necessary or justifiable. If planning approval is granted, we would expect to see repeated the conditions stipulated in the previous approval (HGY/2024/3278) namely:
• The padel courts shall not operate outside the hours of 8am to 8pm
• An operational noise management plan to be submitted and approved
• A car parking management plan to be submitted and approved
• Details of secure cycle parking facilities to be submitted and approved.
We ask the planning team to give due consideration to our concerns.
Robert Jackson, Chair GMTRA