A site in Liverpool that has sat idle for over 15 years is now the focus of plans for a six-court padel facility. Velocity Leisure, the current owner, hopes this proposal will succeed where previous ideas for hotels and trampoline parks have failed. The development aims to tap into the rising popularity of the racket sport.
For more than a decade, a 1.7-acre plot off Speke Boulevard in Liverpool has frustrated developers with unfulfilled ambitions. Situated next to the Dobbies garden centre along Longman Drive, the site first gained approval in 2012 for a food and beverage complex anchored by a Toby Carvery, proposed by Peel Investments. Interest from chains like Starbucks and Subway followed, but the project never advanced.
Velocity Leisure acquired the land in 2017 and has since pursued multiple schemes. A 23,000 sq ft trampoline centre was suggested but stalled amid a crowded market, according to planning consultants J10. More recently, in 2021, outline permission was granted for a 150-bed hotel, yet the plan faltered without a committed brand or operator.
The latest proposal, submitted to Liverpool City Council under reference 26F/0003, envisions a covered padel complex with six courts and a clubhouse. It includes space for 150 parking spots and is designed by DMC Architecture and Design. Proponents highlight padel's growing appeal as a key factor for viability.
This initiative marks Velocity's third attempt to revive the dormant site, building on the sport's surge in the UK. Details are available on the council's planning portal, where the application awaits review.