One of the fastest growing sports in the UK will soon find a new home in Sefton as the Council looks to capitalise on the swinging success of padel tennis.

The Local Authority are to offer underused public tennis courts in Southport, Formby and Crosby respectively to interested parties who could transform them into brand new padel facilities.

The aim would be for some of the tennis courts at each site to be repurposed for padel, and some of the tennis courts to be enhanced for continued and increased use.

Padel Tennis

The opportunity is being put forward by Sefton Council who now will seek to identity a responsible and experienced development and operating partner to help breathe new life into sites in Victoria Park (Southport) Coronation Park (Crosby) and Duke Street Park (Formby).

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said: “This isn’t any old racket – it’s the fastest growing sport in the UK and we want to make sure we’re serving our sport loving communities in the best way possible.

“We have identified three sites within the grounds of Victoria Park, Coronation Park and Duke Street Park that are tennis courts but are perhaps not as well used as they once were.

Tender Opportunity

“By putting out these sites to tender to find a responsible and community-focused operator, we can ensure our communities will get fully refurbished tennis court spaces as well as brand new padel courts.

“While this does mean there will be slightly fewer traditional tennis court spaces, what will be available will be hugely improved as well as bringing in new sport opportunities to the area.”

The move is supported by a number of volunteer groups, including the Friends of Coronation Park (FoCP).

Popularity

Hannah Duffy from the FoCP group said: “As one of the fastest-growing sports, padel is incredibly popular and will be a fantastic addition to the park.

“This development is a perfect fit with our efforts to transform Coronation Park into a vibrant community hub that will benefit local residents for years to come. The introduction of padel will attract a diverse range of park users, support the surrounding area, and boost local businesses, enhancing the park’s appeal as a dynamic destination for everyone.

“With ongoing projects to create an inclusive playground for all children and refurbish the lake, we are truly entering an exciting phase of transformation.”

Details of the lease opportunity will be published on Sefton Council’s CHEST portal.