Having recently submitted plans for the tallest building outside of London, the developer has lodged proposals to create a Padel tennis club as part of the Great Jackson Street skyscraper district.
The temporary club will consist of four courts, a small clubhouse and toilet facilities, delivered in conjunction with Manchester operator Club de Padel.
“Ever since we first encountered Padel in Barcelona several years ago, we have been desperate to bring this amazing sport to Manchester,”
said Club de Padel co-founder David Blake.
“It’s great fun, hugely sociable and easy to pick up, so we know it’s going to be a smash at Deansgate Square.”
Padel is a racquet sport typically played in doubles on enclosed courts and is often described as a hybrid between squash and tennis. It originated in Mexico and is popular in parts of mainland Europe, including France and Spain.
In recent years, the sport has started to take off in the UK. The number of clubs is growing but demand far outstrips supply at present. The closest club to Manchester at present is in Wilmslow.
Renaker’s proposals “aim to create a community asset on previously unused land, providing social, health and wellness benefits for local residents and non-residents from the wider community”, according to a statement.
The club is to be located on land earmarked for phase three of the developer’s Great Jackson Street masterplan.
Eventually, this site will be redeveloped into four towers, two reaching 47 storeys and two rising to 51 storeys, close to Renaker’s 71-storey Lighthouse scheme.