Planners give go-ahead to major new tennis centre

A MAJOR new tennis centre and swimming pool have been given the green light to be built in Bridgend this month after a council planning meeting.

The new national tennis centre will be based on land at Island Farm, Ewenny Road in Bridgend, and would see the area become the home of a massive indoor and outdoor tennis centre, along with a swimming pool complex.

Councillors in attendance at a meeting of Bridgend County Council’s planning meeting heard proposals from developers HD Limited to build nine indoor tennis courts in addition to supporting facilities, which include social areas, a cafe lounge, a gym and studio, and health and rehabilitation services.

In addition there would also be six outdoor tennis courts with associated seating areas, and enclosures constructed on the southern side of the main centre.

An outdoor terrace and swimming pool will also be provided within the plans based on the southern side of the main building, while servicing, access and parking facilities will be located on the western side of the building, accessed by a new entrance from Bridgend Science Park.

Car-parking facilities will also be included on the site and incorporate 168 parking spaces, including 10 accessible spaces and nine motorbike spaces.

It is also expected that the site would create 75 new jobs during the construction period of the development, and a further 50 full-time and part-time jobs once the centre is complete.

Council bosses at the meeting voted to unanimously grant permission for the plans on the basis that the developers enter into a Section 106 Agreement that includes contributing a total sum of £25,266 towards bus-stop improvements, and funding towards roundabout and pedestrian crossing improvements.