Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s development partner, Scarborough Group International (SGI), has submitted a planning application to create three Padel Tennis courts on land at Steel City Stadium, marking the next phase of the Group’s significant, long-term investment into the Stadium and the wider Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
The proposed courts would sit on the same level as the main Stadium concourse, giving players direct access to the café, as well as toilets, changing facilities and the Stadium’s rapidly expanding flexible workspace community. If approved, they are expected to be operational by summer 2026.
The submission follows a period of sustained investment into Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park by SGI. To date, the Group has invested more than £10 million in delivering the Stadium, including the grandstand, supporting amenities and core infrastructure. Earlier this year, SGI completed a further £500,000 enhancement of the ground floor, introducing a new coworking lounge and a performance nutrition café operated by Sheffield-based Food Fusion. Together, these additions have transformed Steel City Stadium into the informal front door to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, offering founders, SMEs, researchers, athletes and students a shared space to work, meet and collaborate.
The introduction of Padel Tennis builds on this momentum. Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in Europe, combining elements of tennis and squash to create a fast-paced, sociable and highly accessible game for all ages and abilities. Dedicated Padel Tennis facilities in South Yorkshire remain limited, and demand for high-quality courts continues to grow. The new courts have been designed to full international standards, with lighting and supporting infrastructure that will ensure a consistently high-quality playing experience, while integrating seamlessly with the surrounding Stadium environment.
Steel City Stadium sits at the heart of an 80-acre innovation campus that brings together elite sport, applied research, clinical expertise and education. It is already home to more than 30 organisations including Medilink UK, UK NEQAS, Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA and Ice Hockey UK. SGI’s wider vision for the Park includes delivering up to one million square feet of workspace, research facilities and supporting amenities, reinforcing Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park as one of the UK’s most important destinations for health, sport and wellbeing innovation.
Scott McCabe, Director at SGI, said: “Submitting this planning application marks another important step in the ongoing evolution of Steel City Stadium. We have invested considerably in the Stadium over recent years, from delivering the grandstand to opening the new café and coworking lounge, and we are committed to ensuring this becomes a vibrant, inclusive and active place for the whole community.
“Padel is a sport that is growing at remarkable pace across the UK. If consent is granted, we stand ready to deliver these courts quickly and bring a much-needed new opportunity for participation, wellbeing and community connection to the Park.”
