Padel’s fusion with the retail and leisure industry continues with the news that padel courts are to be included on a proposed car park rooftop redevelopment at the Metrocentre in Gateshead.
Powerleague have submitted proposals to Gateshead Council for planning permission for eight five-a-side football pitches and four padel courts on top of the Blue Mall multi-storey car park at the popular leisure and retail centre in the north-east of England.
The planning statement, submitted by Lichfields, says the project “would establish new leisure use at the Metrocentre to enhance and offer diversity to the existing offer.”
It adds: “The redevelopment of the site, and the investment which will occur as a result, will ensure the long-term viability of the Metrocentre as a whole – one of the region’s key contributors of economic growth, employment opportunities, as well as retail and leisure provision.”
The proposal is the latest example of padel being offered as an in-demand pursuit which complements existing shopping and leisure facilities at major venues.
In August, The Padel Club announced plans for a £2million, 11-court club at TraffordCity in Manchester, home of the famous Trafford Centre.
Then, just last month, The Padel Paper reported on Padel Social Club securing planning permission for a 13,000 sq ft, three-court padel club at London’s iconic 02 Arena, where it will sit alongside its existing entertainment operators such as iFLY Indoor Skydiving, TOCA Social and Boom Battle Bar.
The Metrocentre project will include a pavilion building and pitch lighting systems and its padel courts will be canopied. The Metrocentre attracts 21 million visitors per year – a huge footfall from which padel would undoubtedly benefit.
Ironically, Powerleague – which operates a network of football facilities across the UK and the Netherlands – sold one of its centres at Pride Park in Derby which later re-opened as We Are Padel in June 2022. It was then the biggest padel club in the country. The Padel Paper understands that the centre has recently undergone a management clear-out.
