‘Modern combat sport’ facility set to open in Huntingdonshire
Players will be able to take part in 'airsoft'
Last updated 1st May 2024
A new ‘modern combat sport’ facility is due to open to players in an old warehouse in Huntingdon.
A business has been given permission to convert a warehouse in Blackstone Road, into an ‘airsoft’ shooting facility.
R.I.F.T. Airsoft Ltd, the company behind the plans, described ‘airsoft’ as being similar to paintball or laser quest.
On the company website it said: “Airsoft is very similar to paintball except for a few key differences: no paintballs are used; the ammunition fired from airsoft guns are 6mm plastic balls (bb’s) that do not break on impact with a human target; the only mess left behind are the bb’s themselves are are easily swept up.
“Airsoft can also be described as a modern combat sport in which participants eliminate their opponents by hitting them with spherical low powered projectiles.”
The company explained that ‘airsoft’ started in Japan in the early 1990’s and said it is still a growing sport, but recognised that many people have not heard of it.
The business said the game is “fun, exciting and promotes teamwork”.
In the plans for the warehouse conversion, submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council, it said no changes were proposed to the outside of the building.
The company also said it proposed to keep the existing 25 car parking spaces for staff and customers of the new shooting facility to use.
In the planning statement it said: “The proposed development will provide a useful addition to the leisure offer in Huntingdon, in a location that is accessible to customers, including young people.
“The application therefore represents sustainable development that supports economic growth and activity.”
The district council said the new facility would support the local economy and recognised that the building could still be converted back to a warehouse at a later date.
The authority did add a condition limiting the facility’s opening times to between 8am and 10pm, and requiring all windows and doors from the game zone and test range to remain closed, apart from when people need to go in and out.
Taking into account these conditions the district council agreed to grant permission for the warehouse conversion.