Plans for a new indoor padel facility in Preston have been approved by the city council, adding to the growing popularity of the racket sport. The venue on Mercer Street in Fishwick will feature 10 courts and operate extended hours. This development merges two vacant units on an industrial estate.
The approval of a new padel centre in Preston marks another step in the sport's expansion in the area. Preston City Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead to Padel Out Preston Ltd's application for a facility on Mercer Street in Fishwick. The site, part of the Fishwick Park industrial estate, involves converting two vacant warehouse-style units into a sports hub.
The venue will include 10 courts designed for singles, doubles, and group play, along with a viewing gallery, gym, exercise space, and a café. It will offer around 50 parking spaces and operate from 6am to midnight daily, providing up to 180 hours of court time per day. Planning officers recommended approval, stating that the change from employment use to leisure would not significantly impact industrial facilities in the city.
One unit previously housed GhostBikes, which shifted to online operations, while the other had been vacant longer. The surrounding area already features two trampoline parks and a vape shop. A council report described the proposal as "acceptable, with the proposed change of use being appropriate for the locality."
Padel is currently available at four Preston locations: Corporation Street near the city centre, Caxton Road in Fulwood, the Broughton and District Club off Whittingham Lane, and West View Leisure Centre on Ribbleton Lane. An additional indoor sports complex is under development in a former B&Q store off North Road. This new venue will make it the sixth such site in the city.
