Warehouse could be converted for racket sports

An empty warehouse could be turned into a centre offering courts for people to play two racket sports if a planning application is approved.

Plans lodged with City of York Council proposed converting Mitrefinch House, on the Green Lane Trading Estate in Clifton, into a sports venue for padel and pickleball.

A wellness centre featuring a cryo-chamber cold room, saunas, treatment rooms and a small crèche is also included as part of the plans.

The applicant, Ben Warn, said the scheme presented an opportunity to bring an empty building back into use.

Plans for the sports centre stated that it would expand the offering of padel facilities in York beyond the two outdoor courts at the David Lloyd gym in Heslington.

A planning application was approved for five outdoor courts in Clifton Moor last year.

The centre would feature four indoor padel and two pickleball courts.

A reception area with a shop and equipment hire service, toilets and changing rooms, a café and viewing mezzanine are also proposed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The wellness centre would be run separately and include a reception and waiting area, changing rooms, a multi-functional studio, saunas and a cryo-chamber on the ground floor.

There would be two treatment rooms, a crèche, kitchenette and offices on the first floor.

Around 40 parking spaces and 11 cycle hoops for up to 22 bikes are proposed as part of the plans.

Padel originated in Mexico and has been described as a hybrid of tennis and squash, with players able to hit balls off the walls of the court.

Pickleball is played on a miniature tennis court with plastic bats and balls.

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