A Design and Access Statement submitted with the application says the scheme would bring a new layout to the St Aidan’s Road site, with a mix of covered and open-air courts designed to allow more year-round play.

The statement says: “The proposals will provide two tennis courts, with a canopy over, two outdoor tennis courts and three padel courts with a canopy over.

“There will be new fencing, external lighting and associated external works.”

If approved, the club’s current four outdoor tennis courts would be replaced by a new arrangement that keeps tennis on the site while also introducing padel.

The document states: “The four existing outdoor tennis courts at Chatsworth Tennis Club will be removed as part of the proposals,” while “the remainder of the existing facilities at both Chatsworth Tennis Club and Carlisle Squash Club will be retained.”

The statement says: “The existing external tennis courts have reached the end of their serviceable life and are in need of re-finishing”, and adds that the present layout does not fully meet accessibility needs.

The application also points to the growth of padel, saying: “There is currently only one padel court facility in Cumbria, a four-court indoor facility in Workington, some 30 miles from the proposed development site.”

Under the plans, the covered tennis courts would sit closer to the existing Chatsworth Tennis Club building, while the new padel courts would be placed along the south-eastern edge of the site beside Carlisle Squash Club.

Planning papers say there would be no change to the existing access arrangements.

The statement says: “There are no proposals to amend the existing parking provision” and adds that the new courts would operate ‘seven days per week during the hours of 6am and 10pm’.

The papers also say a public consultation event was held before the application was submitted, with concerns raised over issues including noise, lighting, parking and the appearance of the structures.

According to the statement, the scheme could also support ‘an additional one full-time employee.’