Posted by 
A former office and stationary store closed for more than half-a-decade could see new life as an indoor sports facility.
What used to be Staples, and then Office Outlet, on the corner of Ringway and Corporation Street has been empty since 2019.
Described as ‘neglected and dilapidated’ the building is in a prominent position between the railway station and the university campus.
Read more: Preston city centre schemes Lofthaus and Urban Village have plug pulled
Two padel courts – a short-form version of tennis – would be created within the building as well as a café.
Padel has become one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and in Preston there’s courts at West View Leisure Centre and new courts are also due to open at Broughton and District Club.
Studio Fri, submitting the plans on behalf of the Bux-family owned Padel Preston Ltd, said: “The proposed conversion of the former Office Outlet unit on Corporation Street into a paddle tennis facility with an integrated café represents a valuable opportunity to revitalise a vacant building in the heart of Preston.”
As well as the conversion to padel courts the plans also cover putting two new illuminated signs on the outside of the building.
Two new full-time jobs would be created as a result of the new padel centre and it would operate from 10am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm on weekends and Bank Holidays.
The proposal appears to spell the end of a previously mooted high-rise office and residential development – Altus – which had been unveiled in 2017 but has never moved forward.
Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
