A proposed health, fitness and racquets club in the county has been given the go-ahead.

The UK's biggest health centre operator, David Lloyd Leisure, applied to Tewkesbury Borough Council for planning permission for a new club in Bishop's Cleeve.

The large fitness club on Stoke Road on the outskirts of the village will include three weather protected tennis courts, six padel courts with canopies, one multi-use court, one Battle Box facility, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, two court sports hall, gym and studio facilities, internal spa facilities and an outdoor spa garden, children's play area and an indoor lounge serving food and drink.

In total, the plans include four swimming pools - a five-lane 20m indoor pool, a 400/800mm deep learner pool, a four-lane 25m outdoor pool and an outdoor children's pool.

The site had previously been earmarked for industrial and warehouse use, which wasn't popular with local residents, particularly those on the nearby Fairmont Estate.

While there were some objections to the David Lloyd club, with concerns around traffic and road safety, there was a lot of local support for the plans.

Bishop's Cleeve Parish Council wrote: "Bishop's Cleeve Parish Council strongly supports this application, and believes it to be a far more appropriate development both as a gateway to the village and given its proximity to a residential site.

"The Parish Council welcomes the employment opportunities that the David Lloyd Centre will bring to Bishop's Cleeve, particularly for its younger residents. In addition, the David Lloyd Centre will partner with both the secondary and primary schools in the area, bringing both work experience opportunities and sporting activities, including swimming.

"The residents of the adjoining Fairmont Estate have demonstrated their preference for this application with their letters of support. In particular, as it will have a lower profile than the industrial units, will not operate on a 24-hour basis, will not attract HGVs noisily approaching through Bishop's Cleeve and loading/ unloading at all times of the day and night.

"The opportunity of having a multi-use sporting/ leisure facility close to Bishop's Cleeve will bring great benefits for both the mental health and physical health of our residents."

One local resident said: "[It] will be an excellent addition to Bishop's Cleeve and will reduce traffic, as it will avoid people having to leave the village to use similar facilities."

Another resident said: "Having a leisure centre in close proximity will encourage us as a family to become more active with swimming and leisure activities. There is a gap in the market for such an establishment, and the benefits far outweigh any negatives perceived."

Plans also include a 315-space car park, with 10 disabled spaces and five parent and child spaces, as well as 20 cycle spaces.

The 2.52ha site on Stoke Road is currently greenfield land, close to the residential estate, several industrial units, Cheltenham North Rugby Club and Grundon Waste Management.

David Lloyd Clubs already operates a health and fitness club on Gloucester Business Park in Brockworth.