Pickleball courts could be created at car park

People could play pickleball on top of a multi-storey car park as part of ambitious new proposals.

Swindon Borough Council want people to transform the top two floors of the Brunel North Car park so it can be used for various leisure activities.

There could be eight pickleball courts painted onto the car park's surface as part of the plans. A thick curtain barrier would be put in place to stop any plastic balls - or mishandled racquets - flying onto the streets below.

The news follows on from similar proposals to turn part of Brunel West into a filming location and to use the top two floors of Whalebridge Car Park as a roller skating venue.

Lights would be put up between the courts to allow play in the evening with seating and a canopy cover also be added for the benefit of waiting players, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

The council's application, submitted to its own planning department, states: "The intention is to transform the spaces into an exciting sport and community destination for the town centre.

"A flexible planning permission is sought which will allow Level five to be used for pickleball and Level four as a community and events space or other leisure, recreation, cultural and community uses."

Graphics included in the council's planning application show pickleball players on the top floor, and a crowd watching a chamber orchestra perform on the floor below.

Like the proposals for Brunel West and Whalebridge, the council says the plan at Brunel North is to find an alternative use for underused floors to help Swindon's wider regeneration.

Pickleball is growing in popularity as a racquet sport in England, with a recent tournament taking place in Wiltshire.

This weekend, hundreds gathered at the Swindon Pickleball Spring 2026 Festival, with people travelling from as far as Australia and Hong Kong.

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