Kirkby town centre is set to receive a new retail and leisure space featuring six to eight padel courts, following the approval of a £2.5 million investment plan. The 32,000 square foot facility will also include changing rooms, a café, social space, and community use areas.
What is Padel?
Padel is a racquet sport combining elements of tennis and squash, typically played in doubles on a smaller court enclosed by glass and mesh walls. It uses the same scoring system as tennis but allows the ball to be played off the walls, similar to squash.
Funding and Approval Process
Kirkby was awarded £19.5 million in Pride in Place funding by the government in 2023, to be invested over 10 years. A neighbourhood board was established with an independent chair and local stakeholders, including councillors and residents, to develop funding proposals. Knowsley Council already had plans to introduce padel—one of the world's fastest growing sports—to Kirkby, and presented a business case to the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board on Friday, which was agreed unanimously.
Knowsley's cabinet will review the proposal next month. If approved, a design team will be appointed and planning permission sought. Conversations with a preferred operator will continue, with the aim of the facilities being operational by the end of 2027.
Other Funding Allocations
The Kirkby Neighbourhood Board also approved several other funding proposals on Friday, including:
- £250,000 for improvements to better connect the town centre's new retail developments to St Chad's Parade
- £110,000 for a Kirkby Community Investment Fund to provide grants for maintaining community spaces
- £60,000 for a Kirkby Town Centre events programme
- £22,700 for a Kirkby Community Fund to support local organisations in delivering community activities
- £10,000 for an employment scheme to help local people access work and skills opportunities in retail, running alongside the new Lidl development
Community Impact
Speaking about the padel court proposal, Kirkby Neighbourhood Board chair Max Steinberg said: “Padel continues to grow massively in popularity. With more and more people taking up the sport it is clear that operators are actively looking for space to create new facilities. The proposition of being located in a town centre with good access, public transport and parking is a huge plus point and its great news that there has been such a positive interest in Kirkby. One of our main aims, as a board, is to create a ‘vibrant town centre’ so this seems like a perfect project to support. I am pleased to offer our backing for something that has the potential to really enhance the town centre but with it, also bring health and wellbeing benefits to residents.”
