Key Points
- £5 million facility for padel tennis to be built on Newton Gardens in Kirkby town centre.
- The potential 32,000 sq. ft. building would have room for eight padel courts, along with facilities such as changing rooms, café, social areas and community areas.
- £2.5 million of Pride in Place money from the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board was pledged in June 2026.
- £2.5 million from Knowsley Council would also be put towards the project: £2 million capital funding and land worth around £500,000.
- Knowsley Council say that the facility would be fully accessible and would aim to open by the end of 2027.
- According to Councillor Tony Brennan, a formal planning application for the facility is “to come very soon” while discussions with the chosen operator continue.
- The development is one of many being undertaken as part of Kirkby’s £19.5 million Pride in Place scheme which spans ten years.
Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 23, 2026 — A new £5 million padel courts facility is set to be developed at Newton Gardens in Kirkby town centre, with Knowsley Council aiming for the leisure site to be operating by the end of 2027. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the proposed 32,000 sq ft facility would provide space for up to eight padel tennis courts, changing facilities, a café and a social space for community use.
The scheme has been supported through a combined funding package of £5 million. In June 2026, the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board committed £2.5 million from the Government-backed Pride in Place programme, while Knowsley Council subsequently agreed to contribute £2.5 million to move the project forward. The council’s contribution comprises £2 million of capital funding and the provision of land valued at approximately £500,000.
What will the Kirkby padel facility include?
According to Knowsley Council’s official news service, the proposed building is designed as a flexible retail and leisure space capable of accommodating six to eight padel courts. The facility would also include changing rooms, a café and social space, and areas specifically intended for community use.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, padel is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash and uses a scoring system similar to tennis. It is commonly played in doubles on a smaller court enclosed by glass and mesh walls.
The council has described the proposed development as a “fully accessible space” that would create a new family leisure offer in Kirkby town centre. It also says the building’s design will be adaptable, allowing its use and internal configuration to change in future if required.
Where will the padel courts be built?
Councillor Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said the facility would be located at Newton Gardens, in the heart of Kirkby town centre.
“We have advanced design and feasibility work and we will be ready to submit a formal planning application very soon,”
Cllr Brennan said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
He added that the council was in “advance dialogue” with its preferred operator, which would invest in running the facility.
“Since announcing this project we have received considerable interest from local organizations and individuals who are keen to get involved,”
he said.
Cllr Brennan said the council intended to share details with the operator and to explore how local organisations and individuals could work together on the project. “We are due to formally conclude our working arrangements with the operator and looking forward to sharing further communications on that very shortly,” he said.
How is the £5m Kirkby padel project funded?
The funding package brings together public investment from two sources. The Kirkby Neighbourhood Board approved £2.5 million of Pride in Place funding at its meeting on June 19, 2026, to support Knowsley Council’s plans for a padel centre in the town centre.
Knowsley Council later committed further investment, helping secure an overall investment of up to £5 million in the town centre. As reported by Knowsley News, the council’s contribution was intended to enable the creation of a purpose-built leisure facility anchored by a modern indoor padel tennis facility.
The Liverpool Echo reported that the council’s £2.5 million contribution includes £2 million of capital funding and land priced at around £500,000. Mersey Monitor also reported that the council’s £2 million allocation included £1 million of borrowing, alongside the development site itself, valued at about £500,000.
When could the Kirkby padel courts open?
Knowsley Council has said it aims for the facility to be up and running by the end of 2027. This timetable was also referenced by Knowsley News when the Neighbourhood Board’s funding commitment was announced in June.
Before construction can proceed, the project must pass through the formal planning process. Cllr Brennan said design and feasibility work had advanced and that a planning application was expected to be submitted shortly.
The council has not publicly named the preferred operator. It says discussions are continuing and that further communications on the working arrangements are expected shortly.
Why is padel coming to Kirkby?
The council has positioned the proposal as part of its broader regeneration strategy for Kirkby town centre. Cllr Brennan said the facility formed part of the authority’s ambition to create a “vibrant, active, and sustainable town centre in Kirkby”.
Knowsley News described the scheme as enhancing opportunities for leisure, health and wellbeing, while also contributing to the wider regeneration of the town centre. The proposed development is intended to provide both sporting facilities and community space, rather than functioning solely as a padel venue.
Background of the development
Kirkby was awarded £19.5 million in Pride in Place funding by the Government in 2023, to be invested over a 10-year period. In June 2026, the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board committed £2.5 million of that allocation to the proposed padel facility.
The following month, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet considered a detailed business plan seeking approval for additional funding contributions. The council subsequently agreed to invest further, bringing the total proposed investment to up to £5 million.
The project is part of the Kirkby Regeneration and Investment Plan, a 10-year strategic framework overseen by the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board and supported by the £19.5 million Pride in Place allocation.
Prediction: How the development may affect Kirkby residents
If the plans proceed as set out, Kirkby residents could gain a new indoor sports and social venue within the town centre by the end of 2027. The facility’s proposed mix of padel courts, café space, changing rooms and community areas suggests it is intended to serve both regular players and wider local users.
For local sports groups, schools and community organisations, the development may create opportunities to use adaptable community space and take part in a growing racquet sport. For town-centre businesses and visitors, the council’s stated aim of creating a more active and sustainable centre could increase footfall around Newton Gardens, although the practical impact will depend on the final planning approval, operator arrangements and opening schedule.
