One of the fastest growing sports in the world – Padel – could soon be coming to Kirkby, after the idea was given financial backing from the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board.
At its meeting on Friday (19 June), the Board committed £2.5 million of its Pride in Place funding to support Knowsley Council’s plans to bring a Padel centre to Kirkby town centre.
Specifically, the investment from the Neighbourhood Board will contribute to the creation of a new 32,000 sq ft flexible retail /leisure space that could accommodate Padel tennis facilities with 6 to 8 courts, changing rooms, café / social space and community use areas.
Over the last year, Knowsley Council has been working with letting agents Barker Proudlove to speak with leisure operators to understand the best options for a viable and sustainable leisure offer in the town centre. From these discussions, Padel emerged as a key opportunity, with a number of operators strongly interested in opening in Kirkby.
As a result, Knowsley Council outlined a business case to the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board at a meeting on Friday 19 June and the proposals were unanimously agreed by board members.
Max Steinberg CBE DL, Chair of the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board said: “My Board colleagues and I were impressed with the work undertaken by the Council to test the market and consider a wide range of leisure options for the town centre. 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.”
With funding from the Neighbourhood Board now agreed, a detailed Business Plan will be considered by Knowsley Council’s Cabinet next month that will seek approval for additional funding contributions to allow the proposal to move forward. If the total funding package is secured the Council will look to appoint a design team, secure necessary planning permissions and appoint a contractor.
Conversations will also continue with a preferred operator with a view to the new facilities being up and running by the end of 2027.