Sunderland City Council’s planning department has approved plans for a six-court padel centre at Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le-Spring, England, as reported by the Sunderland Echo, a decision that matters to building and architecture professionals because it adds a sports facility to an existing office park.

Malik Group Holdings is the applicant, which the Sunderland Echo reported applied earlier this year to set up the centre in part of the car park at the Rainton House office complex.

Sunderland City Council is the planning authority, and the Sunderland Echo reported that its planning department granted the approval.

The Sunderland Echo reported that the scheme includes four covered courts beneath canopy structures, two open-air courts, changing rooms, a pro shop and a café and bar.

According to the Sunderland Echo, the applicants said the plans would provide an additional amenity for businesses and employees at the office park, and had earlier described the site as underused previously developed land.

The structural driver is demand for padel, with the BBC, as carried by AOL, reporting that the Lawn Tennis Association estimated more than 1,000 padel courts in Britain in 2025.

For the sector, the timing matters because the Sunderland Echo reported in September that councillors approved four covered padel courts at Silksworth, replacing four outdoor tennis courts, after officers cited reduced winter use of the outdoor courts.

Place North East reported that a separate 20,000 sq ft, six-court indoor scheme at Offerton Grange Farm, reference 26/01055/FUL, was awaiting determination, with the project team arguing the Green Belt site should be treated as Grey Belt.

The broader implication for the sector is that padel schemes are appearing on car parks, tennis courts and farm land in one city, which could generate work for designers and contractors of canopy structures, enclosures and changing facilities.

Source: Sunderland Echo / AOL / Place North East