Plan for padel tennis centre on leisure park near Dudley dropped

Plans to build a new sports centre at a Black Country leisure park to cash in on the padel-tennis craze have been withdrawn.

Ballers Padel & Social Wellness Club had lodged plans with Dudley Council to build an open-air padel centre on a car park at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill.

The Birmingham-based company wanted to build four outdoor padel courts alongside a clubhouse and spectator area at the rear of the main car park in Waterfront Way.

But director Adrian Cole said the company had been forced to reluctantly withdraw the application after the landlord said it was now looking at developing the site for housing.

“The decision came as a real shock to us,” he said.

Mr Cole had forecast that the centre would have attracted 900 visitors a week, supporting up to nine jobs.

He said he would now be looking for alternative sites in the area.

Padel is a form of tennis which uses smaller courts and solid, perforated rackets.

Mr Cole said he was particularly disappointed as, since details of the plan were published in the Express & Star in April, he had been inundated with interest, inquiries and messages of support from local residents, businesses and potential members who were excited about seeing a new leisure destination brought to the Waterfront.

“The level of community interest has been incredible and demonstrated a clear demand for this type of facility in the area,” he said.

Mr Cole said plans for a similar site in Stirchley, Birmingham, had now been approved, and a further development in central Birmingham would be considered this month.