Rochdale Set for Sporting Shake-Up as Plans Emerge for Town's First Dedicated Padel Hub
Rochdale, Greater Manchester – The sporting landscape of Rochdale is on the cusp of a significant transformation, with exciting proposals lodged to convert derelict land at a local sports club into the town’s first dedicated padel tennis facility.
Plans have been submitted to Rochdale Council by The Padel Architects to construct a state-of-the-art complex featuring six padel courts on land adjacent to the established Rochdale Cricket, Lacrosse and Squash Club on Bridgefold Road.
The proposed Rochdale Padel Club would feature a modern set-up, including four covered courts and two open-air courts. Crucially, the development is set to deliver a significant boost to local amenities, boasting a brand-new clubhouse complete with changing rooms, a café, and a raised terrace offering prime viewing over the action. Adequate parking is also factored into the scheme.
.jpg)
The development aims to transform what documents describe as, "overflow standing space", into a modern, multi-sport destination, integrating padel into the historic club’s offering alongside cricket, lacrosse, and squash.
Tapping into the UK’s Fastest Growing Sport
Padel tennis has experienced explosive growth across the UK, positioning itself as one of the most accessible and social racquet sports available.
In their design statement, the architects highlighted the sport's inclusive nature: “Padel tennis has quickly earned a reputation in the UK as one of the most accessible, social and inclusive racquet sports on offer. Its smaller courts, underarm serves, and wall rebounds make it easy to pick up for people of all ages and fitness levels”.
Played in doubles on a court roughly one-third the size of a standard tennis court, padel blends elements of squash and tennis, utilising solid racquets and a lower-pressure ball. Its fast pace and emphasis on social interaction have proven highly popular, particularly with families and mixed-age groups.
National figures support this surge; the Lawn Tennis Association reports that over 400,000 people tried padel in 2024 alone, with a number of courts nationwide that were expected to exceed 1,000 by mid-2025. Rochdale’s proposed facility aims to capture this rising demand.
Enhancing Community Wellbeing
The developers believe the project will do more than just add new courts; it will invigorate the existing sporting hub.
“The proposed Padel Club has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the site’s potential”, the architects stated. “Padel has a proven track record for creating lasting inclusive communities and can revitalise this sporting hub”.
Documents submitted to the council stress that the scheme will, “create a complementary sporting offer”, and actively promote inclusivity, health, and wellbeing across the borough. By developing the currently unused land, the project promises to create a, "fully integrated sports destination".
While a firm date for a planning decision has not yet been announced, the emergence of the Rochdale Padel Club proposal signals a strong trend of investment targeted at improving the borough’s health, wellbeing, and sporting infrastructure.
Plans have been submitted to Rochdale Council by The Padel Architects to construct a state-of-the-art complex featuring six padel courts on land adjacent to the established Rochdale Cricket, Lacrosse and Squash Club on Bridgefold Road.
The proposed Rochdale Padel Club would feature a modern set-up, including four covered courts and two open-air courts. Crucially, the development is set to deliver a significant boost to local amenities, boasting a brand-new clubhouse complete with changing rooms, a café, and a raised terrace offering prime viewing over the action. Adequate parking is also factored into the scheme.
.jpg)
The development aims to transform what documents describe as, "overflow standing space", into a modern, multi-sport destination, integrating padel into the historic club’s offering alongside cricket, lacrosse, and squash.
Tapping into the UK’s Fastest Growing Sport
Padel tennis has experienced explosive growth across the UK, positioning itself as one of the most accessible and social racquet sports available.
In their design statement, the architects highlighted the sport's inclusive nature: “Padel tennis has quickly earned a reputation in the UK as one of the most accessible, social and inclusive racquet sports on offer. Its smaller courts, underarm serves, and wall rebounds make it easy to pick up for people of all ages and fitness levels”.
Played in doubles on a court roughly one-third the size of a standard tennis court, padel blends elements of squash and tennis, utilising solid racquets and a lower-pressure ball. Its fast pace and emphasis on social interaction have proven highly popular, particularly with families and mixed-age groups.
National figures support this surge; the Lawn Tennis Association reports that over 400,000 people tried padel in 2024 alone, with a number of courts nationwide that were expected to exceed 1,000 by mid-2025. Rochdale’s proposed facility aims to capture this rising demand.
Enhancing Community Wellbeing
The developers believe the project will do more than just add new courts; it will invigorate the existing sporting hub.
“The proposed Padel Club has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the site’s potential”, the architects stated. “Padel has a proven track record for creating lasting inclusive communities and can revitalise this sporting hub”.
Documents submitted to the council stress that the scheme will, “create a complementary sporting offer”, and actively promote inclusivity, health, and wellbeing across the borough. By developing the currently unused land, the project promises to create a, "fully integrated sports destination".
While a firm date for a planning decision has not yet been announced, the emergence of the Rochdale Padel Club proposal signals a strong trend of investment targeted at improving the borough’s health, wellbeing, and sporting infrastructure.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Send your story in to editor@rochdalevaliant.uk
Post a Comment