A ‘warehouse’ style canopy can be built on a recreation ground in the greenbelt, councillors have agreed – despite opposition from residents and their own planning officers.

Councillors at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead voted to approve plans for all-weather pitches at Padel Maidenhead on Braywick Sports and Recreation Ground.

It came after an appeal from wheelchair padel players who said the development was ‘essential’ to allow them to keep playing.

Jack Binstead, a padel player and wheelchair user, appealed to councillors on the Royal Borough’s Maidenhead development management committee to approve the plans.

He said: “For wheelchair users like myself very special circumstances are essential for safety and accessibility.

“Wet weather not only makes it dangerous for us to play due to slippery court service but also increases the risk of skin maceration and illness from prolonged exposure to sodden lap straps.

“Padel Maidenhead has become a vital part of our community welcoming many of the local school children including those from special needs schools.”

He said: “I recognise that this site is located on greenbelt land.” But he said the canopy would have ‘negligible impact on the landscape’ and was similar to other developments in Braywick Park, ‘which is already established as Maidenhead’s sports hub’.

Jack BinsteadJack Binstead calls on councillors to approve the Maidenhead Padel plans (Image: RBWM) The debate came after objections to plans from neighbours – including one who said the 10.45 metre high canopy could ‘only be described as a warehouse’.

Council planning officers also recommended that councillors vote to reject the plans as ‘inappropriate development on the greenbelt’.

The officers said they did not consider there to be ‘very special circumstances’ that in planning law would allow the council to approve the development.

But councillor Geoff Hill – who had asked for the application to be decided by the committee argued that it should go ahead.

He said it would make ground ‘the premier facility for Padel tennis in the country, which would be a big leap forward and a huge feather in the cap of Maidenhead’.

He added the development would enable the venue to hold international tournaments. He said: “This facility would be recognised presumably worldwide. It would actually pull a lot of people into Maidenhead and one would hope a lot of business into Maidenhead.”

Councillor Leo Waters said there were ‘very strong reservations by the planning officer' about the plans. He said: “They recommend refusal because it’s a very large structure – about over 45 feet high – and it is in the greenbelt and it would be against our greenbelt policy.”

But he added: “Having said that if it was not for the disabled people I very much doubt we would even contemplate what we’re contemplating tonight.”

Councillor Hill proposed that the committee agree that providing safe disabled sports facilities, improved community amenity and mental health and social benefits amounted to ‘very special circumstances’ that would allowing the application to be approved.

Eight of the nine committee members voted in favour, with councillor Walters abstaining.