The courts, proposed by Pure Padel Clubs Ltd, will be housed in the former Wickes site on Blackett Road.
Darlington Borough Council granted a Certificate of Lawfulness for the site, confirming its use for indoor sports and recreation on February 24.
The site, part of a small retail area first approved in 1994, has been operating under the same classification since regulations came into force in 2020.
Darlington Borough Council confirmed the site lawfully operates under Class E following the receipt of the application from NJL Consulting on behalf of Pure Padel Clubs Ltd.
Last occupied by Wickes, the store is situated near Company Shop, another retail unit within the development.
Planning conditions on the site, dating back to 1994, are still applicable.
These include restrictions on the types of goods that can be sold.
The categories of prohibited sales include food and drink for off-site consumption, fashion, clothing and footwear, books and stationery (with exceptions for specialist publications), toys, games, handbags, luggage, sports equipment and clothing (except those related to the permitted use), and perfume, jewellery, and toiletries.
Darlington Borough Council’s decision means the padel courts can proceed, provided future operations comply with these restrictions.
The application, made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, argued that the site’s continuous operation under Class E makes it lawful.
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The council agreed, stating that there was no evidence the unit had ever operated outside its original permission or that its use classification had changed.
A Certificate of Lawfulness was therefore recommended for approval.
The site can now be used for any business falling under Class E, including retail, cafes and restaurants, financial and professional services, medical and health services, and offices, as well as the approved indoor sports and recreation use.
