New plans have been submitted to Sandwell Council to convert the former Lidl supermarket in Old Walsall Road, Hamstead, into a 'flagship' padel venue. The application, submitted by Padel 51, proposes five doubles padel courts, a bar, cafe and kitchen, a DJ booth and 'spa-style' changing rooms.
Derelict building to become recreational destination
The building, which sits on the border of Sandwell and Birmingham, has been derelict for two years and has also been vandalised. A statement included with the application said: "The proposal seeks to repurpose the existing building which has been derelict for two years into an indoor padel court facility."
"The development will bring a vacant commercial unit back into active use, providing a modern recreational destination that supports health, wellbeing, and economic activity within the local area," the statement added.
Previous plans for the site
An earlier application to convert the former supermarket into a trampoline park alongside padel courts was approved by the council's planners last year but was never carried out.
In 2024, Digbeth-based Crown Banqueting proposed moving into the empty supermarket to create a wedding venue, but those plans were rejected. The company said it "urgently" needed a new venue because Birmingham City Council planned to demolish its current building as part of regeneration projects in the area.
History of the supermarket
The former supermarket was put on the market for more than £1 million in 2020. Lidl moved 300 metres away along Walsall Road into a new purpose-built and bigger supermarket on the former GKN factory site at the end of 2021.
Two years before Crown Banqueting's bid, Sandwell Council thwarted plans to open a banqueting hall in the former supermarket after significant objections from neighbours. The plan was criticised for not providing enough parking spaces, and the council was anxious the shortfall would prove problematic for already concerned neighbours. At the time, the council also said it would reject plans to convert the former supermarket into a banqueting hall unless it could be proven there was a need for a new venue.
