Peel seeks £10m leisure solution for vacant Quayside space

Some 75,000 sq ft of vacant space at the Salford Quays shopping centre, as well as the food court, will be replaced by 100,000 sq ft of units for leisure occupiers in a significant shift for the complex.

Peel Retail & Leisure has applied for permission to pull the trigger on a £10m investment to redevelop the upper level of the two-floor mall into two units measuring roughly 27,000 sq ft and a third spanning 35,000 sq ft.

Peel has agreed terms with an e-karting operator for the 35,000 sq ft unit, according to planning documents.

The e-karting outfit would join several other leisure operators at Quayside including Virgin Active gym, Vue cinema, and Oxygen trampoline park. Kargo, a food hall, is located on the ground floor and would benefit from the closure of the food court on the floor above.

Overall, the scheme would result in an increase of around 26,000 sq ft of lettable space.

Alder King is advising Peel on the plans. To learn more, search for reference number PA/2025/1808 on Salford City Council’s planning portal.

A spokesperson for Quayside said: “Peel Retail & Leisure, which owns and operates Quayside, has submitted planning applications for up to £10m of further investment at the waterfront shopping destination. The proposals are the next step in realising the new vision for Quayside focused on community retail and leisure.

“Subject to planning, the next phase of investment would prioritise a remodelled upper mall to create three larger leisure units, alongside improvements to pedestrian flow, accessibility, and car park facilities. The plan is for Quayside’s upper mall level to be focussed on leisure operators whilst the lower mall level will offer a more concentrated retail mix. We are in advanced discussions with leading leisure and retail operators, with news to follow in the coming months as part of Quayside’s next chapter.

“There has already been significant recent investment at Quayside, including the introduction of the region’s largest food hall with Kargo MKT, Brewski’s Big Tray BBQ and experiential leisure facilities such as Oxygen indoor trampoline and activity park, the premium indoor golf venue TeeClub and the UCFB University campus. The latest proposals have been developed to bring the remainder of the centre in line with these high-quality leisure and community offerings.”

“The proposed investment will be transformational and will enable Quayside to continue playing a pivotal role in the Quays town centre and bringing the centre up to modern day standards.”

By leaning into leisure at Quayside, Peel is emulating the approach it has taken at Trafford Palazzo, which has welcomed a range of leisure operators over recent years in bid to become a more experiential destination.

These include Archies Atomic, King Pins, and an Everlast branded gym.