A gym will replace two tennis courts with padel courts in order to "support healthy lifestyles whilst diversifying the sporting offer" – after plans were agreed by the council. 

Club Kingswood, in Clay Hill Lane, Basildon is also planning to install eight spotlights for the new courts and the courts are set to be in used from 6am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6.30pm Saturday to Sunday.

The plans state that the courts will be located towards the north-eastern boundary of the site and on the south-eastern boundary of the site. One of the courts will be located underneath a canopy measuring approximately nine metres in height, with a 3.4 metre overhang on each side.

The proposals received no objections from a number of organisations and council departments including: Basildon Council's Environmental Health Department, Environmental Health, Basildon Council's Leisure and Open Spaces Department, Basildon Councils Arboricultural Officer and Sports England. 

The council officers report also states that the proposed works will have no impact on the existing parking arrangements and therefore will not be detrimental to highway safety, capacity or efficiency. The report also states the council has put conditions in place to stop any "detrimental increase of noise and disturbance" to the surrounding neighbours and homes.

It adds: "Paragraph 96 of the national planning policy framework states that planning decisions should aim to achieve healthy, inclusive and safe places which amongst other aspects promote social interaction, enable and support healthy lifestyles, especially where this would address identified local health and well-being needs for example through the provision of sports facilities.

"The proposed Padel ball court facilities will encourage physical activity amongst the local population, promote social interaction and support healthy lifestyles whilst diversifying the sporting offer available at the Kingswood Club, in accordance with the supporting healthy communities objectives of the the national planning policy framework.

"The padel courts proposed will be open, by way of booking, between the hours of 6am to 10pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 6.30pm Saturday to Sunday, these reflect the same opening hours as the existing tennis court to be replaced. Environmental Health have raised no objections to these opening hours, and a condition has been secured to restrict opening hours to these given times only.

"A condition has also been secured to restrict the hours of use of the proposed lighting columns to the same time as the opening hours.

"Both these conditions have been secured to prevent the use causing any undue disturbance to occupants of neighbouring properties at unreasonable hours Therefore, in light of the above, the proposed padel courts, are not considered to result in a detrimental increase of noise and disturbance to the surrounding neighbouring occupiers."