JUST PADEl preston
Just Padel Preston – Lancashire’s First Indoor Padel Tennis Facility, Designed by Studio FRI
Just Padel Preston is Lancashire’s first-ever purpose-built indoor padel tennis facility, located in the heart of Preston city centre. Delivered through a successful partnership between Just Padel, the North West’s leading indoor padel operator, and Studio FRI, Preston’s leading sports and leisure architects, this project represents a landmark transformation of a vacant commercial unit into a thriving, modern sports destination. Situated within the former Office Outlet on Corporation Street, the facility brings high-quality indoor padel courts and a café to Preston’s urban core, marking a significant step forward for the city’s sporting and leisure offer.
The Preston site was the very first in Just Padel’s expansion journey, laying the foundations for subsequent facilities in Blackpool and Bolton. The project demonstrated the commercial and community value that comes from converting empty commercial spaces into vibrant indoor leisure hubs, providing an exciting blueprint for future Just Padel venues across the North West.
Transforming the Heart of Preston with Just Padel
Studio FRI played a central role in unlocking the potential of this prominent city centre site. The project was a prime example of adaptive reuse, delivering a high-quality sports facility within an existing structure while supporting Preston’s broader goals of city centre regeneration. By successfully securing full planning permission for a change of use from retail to indoor leisure Studio FRI enabled the delivery of Preston’s first indoor padel centre while breathing new life into a long-vacant building.
The scheme included obtaining advertisement consent to support the Just Padel brand presence, ensuring the site was not only functional but also visually appealing within the streetscape. The introduction of padel tennis provided Preston with a much-needed modern indoor leisure option, contributing to local health and wellbeing while enhancing the vitality of Corporation Street and the wider city centre area.
Studio FRI: The Trusted Architects Behind Just Padel’s Growth
Studio FRI has been the lead architectural and planning consultant for Just Padel since the brand’s inception. Our role in the Preston project went far beyond basic architectural design. From initial feasibility assessments to detailed planning drawings, site surveys, and post-approval support, Studio FRI managed every element of the project. The process began with a full 3D point cloud survey of the existing building, allowing us to capture precise measurements and develop tailored architectural proposals aligned to both the building’s constraints and Just Padel’s operational requirements.
Our team prepared and submitted the full planning application, including detailed planning statements, Noise Impact Assessments and Transport Statements. Studio FRI handled the end-to-end planning process, working closely with Preston City Council to ensure a smooth approval process and successful project delivery. By offering a complete turnkey service, Studio FRI was able to guide Just Padel through every stage of delivery, from initial concept to operational launch.
Setting a New Standard for Indoor Padel in Preston
The Just Padel Preston facility introduced a completely new sporting experience to the city. Padel tennis is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, combining elements of tennis and squash into a fast-paced, accessible, and sociable game that appeals to players of all ages and abilities. Before the arrival of Just Padel, Preston had no dedicated padel facilities, meaning local residents had to travel to other towns to access this increasingly popular sport.
With the successful delivery of the Preston venue, Studio FRI and Just Padel brought year-round, all-weather indoor padel courts to Lancashire for the first time. In addition to its courts, the facility includes a modern café and social space, creating a welcoming hub for players, spectators, and the local community. This project contributed to increasing physical activity levels within Preston while providing a unique destination that draws visitors into the city centre, boosting footfall and supporting wider economic regeneration objectives.
Studio FRI is more than your typical architecture studio. We are a full-service consultancy that manages planning permission, design, technical assessments, and delivery oversight. Our deep understanding of planning policy, combined with our technical design skills, enables us to unlock value from redundant retail and industrial buildings and convert them into dynamic, community-focused spaces. With Just Padel Preston, we delivered a facility that set the standard for padel tennis in Lancashire, helping to lead the sport’s growth in the UK.