New Padel facility to be built on rooftop of south London shopping centre car park

Wandsworth Council has granted planning permission for London-based Padel Social Club to create a new sporting venue at the shopping centre.

Padel Social Club in collaboration with Southside Shopping Centre will transform the rooftop of the centre’s multi-storey car park into a unique sports and recreational space.

The 30,000 sq ft venue will be spread across two levels.

Padel is often described as a mix between tennis and squash (Image: Padel Social Club)

It will feature six covered padel courts, including an exhibition court.

The space will also include changing rooms, a wellness area and a variety of food and drink kiosks.

Padel is a fast-paced sport often described as a blend of tennis and squash.

The sport is commonly played in doubles on an enclosed court around one-third of a tennis court’s size.

The CGI images show what the courts and social spaces will look like (Image: Padel Social Club)

Food and beverage kiosks at the new venue will offer a selection of rotating menus by a range of chefs and restaurants.

Social areas will include co-working spaces overlooking the padel courts, a reception with open seating, and an outdoor space boasting panoramic views of Wandsworth.

The Padel Social Club at Southside is due to open its doors at the end of 2024.

The aim is to provide an inclusive space for all to play, learn and socialise.

As the fastest growing sport worldwide, the demand for Padel courts in the UK is high.

The venue will also feature a co-working space overlooking the courts (Image: Padel Social Club)

Padel Social Club CEO Kristian Hunter said: “We’re delighted to see this project coming to life and to be able to bring our all-encompassing Padel experience to Wandsworth.

“Working alongside Southside Shopping Centre, we are excited to create a vibrant community space that introduces more people to the social sport of Padel.”

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Southside Shopping Centre’s Director Rebecca Ruddle added: “We’re excited to be partnering with Padel Social Club to bring the game to Wandsworth.

“This exciting addition not only revitalises an underutilised space at the centre, but also enhances our bustling leisure offering.”

Councillor Tony Belton, who chairs Wandsworth’s Planning Applications Committee, said: “This is an interesting scheme that’s using an empty rooftop space to create a sports and leisure facility for a popular new health and fitness activity.

“We welcome applications that not only help deliver better health and well-being opportunities for our residents but also those that come up with imaginative new uses to turn vacant and underused spaces into vibrant community spaces.”