Plans to expand the town centre of Penrith southwards into the Southend Road area began to be implemented with the expansion of the swimming pool into a modern leisure centre complex. Hitherto the area had been a car park and sports fields, including ones used by Penrith and Penrith United football clubs. The plans for the rest of the scheme were developed by a property company and included a new Sainsbury's supermarket,), new shopping streets, car parking and housing. The name Penrith New Squares refers to the new shops to be centred around two squares for parking and public entertainment.