Over the last few years, Steel City Stadium at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park has been steadily evolving. What began as a major investment in sporting infrastructure has grown into something much broader – a place to work, meet, train, collaborate and spend time. Now, we’re taking that evolution one step further.
We’ve submitted a planning application to introduce three new Padel tennis courts at Steel City Stadium, as part of our continued long-term investment in both the Stadium and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. The proposed courts will sit on the same level as the main Stadium concourse, giving players direct access to the existing 3G pitch, café, changing facilities and toilets, as well as the Stadium’s growing flexible workspace community. Subject to planning approval, we’re aiming for the courts to be open and in use by summer 2026.
This submission builds on a sustained programme of investment across the Park. To date, we’ve invested more than £10 million in delivering Steel City Stadium, including the grandstand, supporting amenities and core infrastructure. Earlier this year, we completed a further £500,000 enhancement to the ground floor, introducing a new coworking lounge alongside a performance nutrition café operated by Sheffield-based Food Fusion. Together, these additions have helped establish Steel City Stadium as the informal front door to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park; a place where founders, SMEs, researchers, athletes and students naturally come together to work, meet and collaborate.
Introducing Padel builds directly on that momentum. One of the fastest-growing sports in the UK and Europe, Padel combines elements of tennis and squash to create a fast-paced, sociable and highly accessible game for players of all ages and abilities. Despite its rapid growth, high-quality Padel facilities in South Yorkshire remain limited, and demand continues to rise.
The proposed courts have been designed to full international standards, with high-quality lighting and supporting infrastructure to ensure a consistently strong playing experience throughout the year. Just as importantly, they’ve been carefully designed to sit comfortably within the existing Stadium environment, feeling like a natural extension of everything that already happens here.
Steel City Stadium sits at the heart of an 80-acre innovation campus that brings together elite sport, applied research, clinical expertise and education. The Park is already home to more than 30 organisations, and our wider vision includes delivering up to one million square feet of workspace, research facilities and supporting amenities. The aim is to reinforce Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s position as one of the UK’s most important destinations for health, sport and wellbeing innovation, while ensuring it remains an active, welcoming place for the wider community.
Submitting this planning application marks another milestone in the Stadium’s ongoing evolution. We’ve invested significantly over recent years, from delivering the grandstand to opening the café and coworking lounge, and we remain committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive and active destination. If planning consent is granted, we’re ready to move quickly and bring a much-needed new opportunity for participation, wellbeing and community connection to the Park.
As Scott McCabe, Director at Scarborough Group International, explains:
“This planning submission is another important step in the continued evolution of Steel City Stadium. We’ve invested considerably in the Stadium over recent years, from delivering the grandstand to opening the café and coworking lounge, and we’re committed to ensuring it continues to grow as a vibrant, inclusive and active place for the whole community.
“Padel is a sport growing at remarkable pace across the UK, and if consent is granted, we’re ready to deliver these courts quickly, bringing a much-needed new opportunity for participation, wellbeing and community connection to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.”
