By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
A padel sports centre and gym will be created at a historic railway site after plans were today approved by the council.
Ollo Padel applied to convert the grade II* listed Roundhouse near Armley Gyratory.
The Wellington Road project includes nine outdoor padel courts, along with indoor sports facilities and events spaces.
Pictures of proposed facilities at the site, which dates back to the 1840s, were shown to Leeds City Council’s west plans panel.
Otley and Yeadon Liberal Democrat member Colin Campbell said he supported the plans. He said: “It strikes me this is quite a sensible proposal.”
Kirkstall Labour councillor Andy Rontree said: “I’m impressed with this. I think it’s an appropriate and imaginative use of the site.”
Councillors were told the scheme would preserve the Roundhouse, built by the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company to house Victorian steam engines.
A planning report said: “The roundhouse was built as a circular storage building for steam locomotives around a central turntable.
“Constructed of redbrick with paired round-headed windows and a pitched slate roof with rooflights, it was completed in 1847 and is grade II* listed.”
Seventy-five parking spaces would be provided as part of the project, along with bike storage and footpath access.
Panel members voted unanimously in favour of the project at the meeting at Leeds Civic Hall.
It means final approval is delegated to the council’s chief planning officer, subject to conditions.
Plans for the Roundhouse were revised after a similar scheme proposed in 2023 did not go ahead.
Nice idea but the very heavy traffic leading to the gyratory just in front will make it difficult to access. The noise and fumes won’t help. Unless the council intend to turn Wellington road into a cycle lane!
Well most people would walk to it, because most users would already live nearby and in the city centre.