A seasonal dome over four tennis courts at the bottom of Grands Vaux will be replaced with a permanent hall, if a planning application is approved.
The Caesarean Tennis Club has applied to replace the temporary ‘bubble’ – which is separate from the year-round dome that covers two courts – with an enclosure of the same dimensions.
The proposed structure has a curved rather than pitched roof. Sixteen floodlights will be removed, and the glow of the current dome will disappear.
A planning statement accompanying the application states: “From the external public realm, there will be aesthetic improvements with the anomalous bubble structure removed from the site, replaced by a new structure sitting comfortably in the context of the wider tennis club. Noise and light pollution will also be reduced, benefiting neighbours.”
It adds: “More importantly, the significant ‘next-generation’ investment by the club will support its long-term future, with a robust and resilient facility that will provide excellent conditions to nurture future tennis talent and for islanders of all ages and abilities to enjoy sport as an important part of health and community infrastructure.”
The size of the hall will be 61m by 36m, to cover the existing four courts, and 10m high.
The ‘bubble’ nature of the seasonal dome means that the proposed building is slightly taller at its ‘shoulders’.
Recently, the tennis club applied for a 50% reduction in planning fees for this major application on the basis that it is a not-for-profit organisation and the project had community and health benefits.
However, this was rejected by Environment Minister Steve Luce because the club is not a registered charity.