Work on a £2.5 million facility for the UK's up-and-coming racket sport is underway after the approval of planning permission.
Trafford Council approved planning permission for The Padel Club in the spring of this year at a site close to the Trafford Centre.
Founded by Kristopher Ball two years ago in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and funded by investors including several sports stars, the business says its base in the shadow of Barton Bridge is to be the biggest and best in the North of England.
Work on the £2.5 million facility, including almost a dozen courts and a clubhouse, is underway with completion due to be in January 2025. The developer is Peel Waters, a part of landowner Peel L&P, and the designer is Zynk Design.
James Whittaker, the managing director of Peel Waters said: "Working in partnership is key to every project we deliver at Peel Waters and we are pleased to be working with The Padel Club to deliver a flagship facility in TraffordCity.
"We are committed to offering a sport for everyone at TraffordCity and - with Padel being one of the fastest growing sports in the UK - this flagship facility will add another experience to the already amazing offering in this destination."
The investors in The Padel Club include the Ashes-winning cricket captain and cricket commentator Michael Vaughan.
They also include a number of famous footballers like James Milner, Joleon Lescott, Shay Given and Steph Houghton.
Mr Vaughan, who was born a matter of miles away in Eccles, Salford, said: "It is great to see the construction start at TraffordCity.
"It will have more courts to attract more players and, once completed, to have more players enjoying the sociability at TraffordCity."
Padel is a racket sport in an enclosure with some elements of squash and tennis and its origins in Acapulco, Mexico.
Its arrival adds another attraction to an area already flush for activities from five-a-side football to skiing and skydiving.
For information go to thepadelclub.co.uk/traffordcity.
This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.
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