PLANS to install new tennis courts at a sports club have been rejected.

Bucks Council has refused a planning application for the Chesham 1879 Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, on Pednor Road.

Plans had detailed the erection of two Padel tennis courts with floodlights and a canopy roof.

But the council said the scheme would be “significantly harmful” to the Green Belt, and an “alien and incongruous feature”.

“The proposed Padel tennis [courts], by reason of the canopy structure represents inappropriate development, which would, by definition, be significantly harmful to the Green Belt,” the council.

“The proposal would result in visual and spatial harm to the openness of the Green Belt and…encroachment into the countryside.”  

Adding: “Given the context of the site adjacent to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the [canopy] appears as an alien and incongruous feature which does not relate well to the surrounding built form and appears overly prominent in the locality.

“Furthermore, given the material used for the dome, any internal lighting used at night has the potential to create light pollution.”

It said “no very special circumstances” exist to outweigh the harm identified.