New padel courts to open at former Royal Mail site in Croydon left empty for 9 years

The long-abandoned Royal Mail site in East Croydon is set for a significant transformation as it will become home to nine padel tennis courts. The site has been empty since 2015, but plans have been approved for it to house nine fully-enclosed courts and an accompanying building with changing rooms, toilets, a shop, bar, and staff areas.

Additionally, there will be four external containers selling food and drink While no opening date has been confirmed for the courts, the promise of padel—a hybrid sport that merges characteristics of tennis and squash played on a walled court—is something people can eagerly anticipate.

Rocket Padel’s vision for the Addiscombe Road site includes six temporary structures housing the courts, as well as essential amenities ranging from changing facilities to culinary offerings. The company has been granted a 10 year planning permission to operate at the site.

The project plans to offer complimentary sessions to schools and youth groups, in a bid to create broader access to this evolving sport among people living in Croydon. The project not only promises to boost the local job market but also to revitalise the community’s sports scene.

Carl Heimdal, co-founder of Rocket Padel said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission for this unique site in East Croydon which will be something truly special for the community.”, reports MyLondon.

According to the team behind the project: “Not only will this new venue create a significant number of job opportunities in the area, but it will also introduce thousands of new players to the sport of padel. We can’t wait to see this club become a vibrant hub for padel enthusiasts and a fantastic addition to London’s sports scene.”

Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said: “Attracting inward investment into our borough is fundamental to restoring pride in our hometown. Rocket Padel is a welcome addition to East Croydon – it will transform this unused space into a vibrant sporting venue, whilst ensuring the local community can access the facilities.”