Company outlines vision for new sporting facilities near Washington B&M, Lidl, McDonald’s, Costa and more
Plans for a new outdoor padel courts development at a Washington retail park have been submitted to council development chiefs.
Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received an application for land at Peel Retail Park which sits off the A1231 Sunderland Highway.
The retail park houses a number of major businesses including B&M, Lidl, McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and more.
New plans from Soul Padel Ltd aim to redevelop a parcel of unused grassed land at the retail park to create a sports development.
Submitted planning documents confirm the proposed development is linked to padel, a racket sport played with specialist equipment in small enclosed courts, where walls are part of the courts and can be used in play.
The sport blends elements of tennis and squash and is typically played in doubles, and the enclosed court is often surrounded by a combination of glass and mesh walls.
In recent years, the sport has gained popularity nationally with dedicated plans for padel facilities emerging across the North East, including at several sites in Washington.
This includes plans submitted to Sunderland City Council’s planners in late-2025 seeking permission for a padel development at a unit within Crowther Industrial Estate in Washington, as well as another plan emerging for an “indoor padel sports centre” in the Stephenson Industrial Estate.
Proposals for the Peel Retail Park site include nine outdoor padel courts and the “siting of a container building to provide clubhouse facilities”, supporting planning documents confirm.
The proposed building created from “modified shipping containers” on site is expected to house a “reception desk, changing rooms, accessible toilets, coffee bar with seating area and storage facilities”.
Those behind the scheme also confirmed that “eight of the padel courts will be covered by rain canopies and one court in the south west corner will be left open.”
Details of the development and applicant behind the scheme are set out in a planning, design and access statement submitted to council officials.
Soul Padel Ltd is described as a “UK-based operator specialising in the development and long-term management of padel facilities” and it was noted that the firm is “expanding a network of high-quality venues across the UK, several of which are already operational or progressing through planning and delivery”.
Planning documents noted that “the company’s ethos is rooted in accessibility and community benefit [and] its mission is to make padel an inclusive and sociable sport, encouraging participation from people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities”.
This includes “working closely with local schools, sports organisations and partners to ensure new developments integrate with their surroundings and deliver tangible local benefits”.
It was also noted that the new Washington padel proposal would “utilise the existing large car park that serves the site and wider retail park” and that the development would be a “wholly appropriate and sustainable form of development for this location”.
The planning, design and access statement adds: “Overall, the proposed development represents a positive and beneficial use of underutilised land,
delivering modern, accessible and much-needed sports facilities for the local community, to be delivered by a padel operator with a proven track record.
“It will make a valuable contribution to the health and wellbeing of residents and workers within the area, while enhancing the recreational offer of Washington and more widely.”
A decision on the planning application is expected following a council consultation exercise.
Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website lists a decision deadline of March 16, 2026.
For more information on the plan, or to track its progress, visit the council’s planning portal website and search reference: 26/00063/FUL
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