Controversial plan for pickleball court home denied

The property called Furusato was set to replace a bungalow on the Norfolk coast

A couple who hoped to build a large house on the coast, complete with summer pavilion, sauna and controversial pickleball court, have had their application rejected.

Don and Lorna Mackenzie submitted a planning application to replace a 1970s bungalow along Wells Road in Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk, with a two-storey house overlooking marshland.

The plans were formally opposed by about 50 local residents, who were mostly concerned about the potential of "anti-social noise" caused by the racket game.

West Norfolk Council said the proposals did "not respond sensitively or sympathetically to the context and character" of the area.

West Norfolk council's planning committee had recommended that plans were approved

In one public comment posted on the council's planning portal, Emma Rance wrote: "I am hoping by the time the committee meets, the members have studied the detrimental effects that pickle courts are having to neighbourly harmony.

"It is played with a hard bat and hard ball and unlike the gentle thud of a tennis ball on racket it is a hard sound which reverberates with some force, in relentless fashion."

In the United States where the sport originated, the sound caused by pickleball has been "driving everyone nuts", according to The New York Times.

The sport witnessed a boom during the Covid-19 pandemic

Burnham Overy Parish Council was among those that opposed the plans.

In a statement submitted to West Norfolk Council it said it was "very concerned" that the planning application extended over the village development boundary, which "could set a precedent for other properties in the village".

It claimed the designs were "overbearing" and "intrusive" in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), especially when viewed from the Norfolk Coast path.

Mr and Ms Mackenzie have six months to appeal the council's decision.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a mash-up of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and can be played by singles or in pairs, either indoors or outside.

The aim of the game is to get the ball over the net and prevent your opponent from hitting it back.

Players use hard paddles a little bigger than ping-pong bats, and a light plastic ball called a wiffle ball to play.

Pickleball remains one of America's fastest growing sports.