Planning officials have given the green light for a new pickle ball sports centre to be created in Stoke-on-Trent.
Pickleball People has been granted permission to change the use of the former Autobrite Direct building on Festival Way in Etruria into a centre with nine pickleball courts, a viewing area with café, along with a reception and a shop.
A planning statement submitted with the application to Stoke-on-Trent City Council reads: “The proposed site will serve as a regional centre for Pickle Ball, providing easy access to local communities to enjoy the benefits of physical activity and will promote this sport more generally.
“Although this is traditionally a town centre use, the accompanying sequential test demonstrates that there is no existing capacity to provide the proposed development within the town centre.”
The planning application has been passed by officers using delegated powers.
Autobrite Direct relocated from Meir Park to Etruria in 2023 but later collapsed into voluntary liquidation.
The new pickle ball site will also have 74 parking spaces, changing rooms and toilets, along with meeting rooms and staff facilities.
While the meeting rooms will be used by the applicants only, quiet working spaces will be available to the public.
Pickle ball is a fast-growing paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a badminton-sized court with a plastic ball and solid paddles, and is enjoyed by celebrities including George Clooney, the Kardashians and some current and ex-tennis stars.
Pickleball People aims to grow the sport through club sessions, expert coaching, selling pickleball equipment and hosting pickleball holidays and events.
The organisation already runs pickleball clubs and group coaching sessions throughout the Potteries, and at Keele University, Alsager Sports Centre and Kidsgrove Sports Centre.
