Floating padel plans revealed for Liverpool
Liverpool floating padel courts
The UK’s first floating padel courts could be open for play by late summer if Liverpool City Council planners green light the ambitious scheme.
The as-yet unnamed padel facility is planned for Liverpool Waters’ Princes Dock as part of a £5.5 billion scheme by the Peel Group to rejuvenate the Vauxhall area of Liverpool, bringing derelict docks back into use.
A development partnership comprising waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters, Cheshire-based Padel Ventures, Finnish companies Floating Padel and Bluet Floating Solutions, together with architects/designers Imagineering Global, have created plans for three floating courts plus a Scandi-inspired floating club house with shop, bar, cafe and decked seating area. Their aim is to create a world-class sporting facility with a ‘stunning’ waterside location.
Princes Dock has already scored a first with Wyld Sauna, the UK’s first public floating sauna, and Padel Ventures’ Gareth Evans believes the floating padel courts will only add to the locations’ appeal. He said: “Working with Peel Waters to offer what will be one of the most iconic padel destinations in the world is so exciting for us. One of the reasons we love padel so much is the social side of the sport, it’s not just about creating a new landmark leisure concept, it’s about creating something the community will enjoy and businesses will want to use. We want to make a space which gets people out socialising and encourages people to pick up a racket and have a go.
“The design of the space will create an environment that celebrates the sport and uniqueness of the location whilst also providing a space to watch the world go by, grab a drink, relax in and enjoy being by the water,” added Gareth.
James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters, said: “This floating concept demonstrates the open approach we have at Peel Waters to welcoming innovative, new ideas and collaborating with forward-thinking businesses to use our portfolio as a testbed for unique, UK-first activations on water and the surrounding land.
“Padel is a fantastic, accessible activity and the social side of the sport is of upmost importance to us. We have thousands of residents, workers and visitors already on site at Liverpool Waters and we are constantly looking at new ways to connect-up the community and new activities for them to experience. This new facility will be an iconic, must-visit padel destination both for padel enthusiasts and spectators, encouraging more socialising, friendship forming and opportunities for the area.”
Ville Leisti, the Finnish founder and CEO of Floating Padel, built one of the world’s first floating padel facilities in Espoo, Finland, said: “There are a few floating padel courts around the globe, however this development with all of the facilities and amenities we are planning to bring to Liverpool Waters will make it an internationally recognised padel club destination.
“Building on land can have its challenges and space is limited, this concept at Liverpool Waters is a perfect example of how unused water areas can be utilised to bring innovative services and activities to places where they are needed.”
An announcement on who will run the padel facilities is expected in the coming weeks. The Peel Group is already connected with a padel operator – Wilmslow-based The Padel Club – through its development of an 11-court facility at TraffordCity, Manchester. 🎾
