Glass, Turf, and Margin
Padel tennis is no longer the underdog of British sport. In just three years, it has vaulted from curiosity to cornerstone — changing how we socialise, exercise and, increasingly, invest.
But while players scramble for court slots and retailers celebrate surging paddle sales, another sector is quietly underpinning this phenomenon: construction. From Hampshire to Huddersfield, the padel boom has ignited a race to build, refurbish and monetise court spaces. And for operators, developers and councils alike, a central question arises — how much does it actually cost to build a padel court in Britain today?
An Exploding Market with Inelastic Demand
Sport England’s latest Q2 2025 figures estimate more than 190,000 regular padel players in the UK — up 128% from June 2023. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) confirms that over 460 courts are now operational across England, Wales and Scotland, with dozens more in pre-approval stages.
What makes this growth economically fascinating is its inelasticity of demand. In popular regions such as Greater London, the South East, and Manchester, court slots at peak times are booked three weeks in advance. Demand is outpacing supply at such velocity that club operators are competing for industrial leases, car parks and repurposed squash halls.
Enter the padel construction sector — and with it, a patchwork of pricing, planning, regulation and reward.
The Core Cost Equation: Fixed and Variable Factors
At a glance, industry averages suggest the cost of building a standard outdoor double padel court in the UK ranges from £38,000 to £60,000, depending on structural choices and finishing. Indoor courts or covered models often cost significantly more — £65,000 to £120,000 — due to steel framing, HVAC requirements, and increased foundation load-bearing standards.
The price variables break down into several layers:
- Site Preparation and Groundworks
Basic concrete pad or foundations: £6,000–£12,000 per court
Excavation, levelling, drainage installation: £3,000–£8,000
Civil works costs increase if converting uneven terrain or brownfield sites
- Structural Framework
Galvanised steel frame and tempered glass panels: £18,000–£28,000
For panoramic models, prices rise by 20–30% due to structural integrity requirements
- Playing Surface
Mondo or equivalent artificial turf with shock pads: £5,000–£7,500
Acrylic alternatives for high-volume use are available but less common
- Lighting and Infrastructure
LED floodlighting (4–6 columns): £3,500–£7,000
Smart lighting systems with motion sensors add 15–25% to this figure
- Installation and Labour
Specialist installation teams: £6,000–£10,000 per court
If indoor, expect additional costs for insulation, fire compliance, and climate controls
In total, a standard double court with quality mid-range materials and basic lighting can be constructed for around £52,000–£58,000. But as with all property-related ventures, the devil is in the regulatory detail.
Planning Permission, Regulations and Delays
In England, most outdoor padel court projects fall under Class F2(c) planning classifications — akin to facilities for sport or recreation. However, councils vary in their interpretation, particularly in conservation zones or near residential properties.
The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 still governs noise and light pollution thresholds. Glass courts, in particular, raise issues for planners concerned with reflection, visibility and evening light spill.
According to Planning Portal UK, 38% of padel court applications between Jan 2024 and May 2025 faced requests for design amendments or acoustic buffering.
Indoor builds, meanwhile, must meet Building Regulations 2010 for ventilation, accessibility, and fire protection. This adds weeks to approval timelines, especially for new-build complexes.
Time, of course, is money. For every month lost to planning uncertainty, developers lose yield on upfront capital and may breach supplier pricing windows — particularly for imported Spanish or Italian materials.
Import Costs and Brexit Friction
Padel remains a Spanish export at heart. Over 80% of court structures installed in the UK still originate from southern Europe, particularly Valencia, Bilbao and Barcelona. Brands such as Padel10, AFP Courts, and Portico Sport supply much of the prefabricated infrastructure.
Post-Brexit, however, the importation of prefabricated padel kits has become more complex. Costs are up 12% year-on-year due to VAT processing delays, fuel inflation and required UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) certification. Some construction managers report delays of four to six weeks on containers stuck in Calais or Felixstowe.
To mitigate this, several UK firms now warehouse components in Dutch freeports or Irish staging hubs, using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping agreements to streamline customs entry. But for smaller clubs or councils without bulk-buying power, import friction can add £4,000–£6,000 per court in hidden costs.
Covered Courts: The £100,000 Decision
With British weather as unpredictable as ever, demand for covered or fully indoor padel courts has soared. According to the LTA Padel Infrastructure Report (June 2025), covered courts now account for 42% of all new builds, up from 17% in 2022.
These builds require either:
A full steel canopy (20x10m) with wind anchors and guttering
Or full-frame insulated warehouses retrofitted for sporting use
The cost uplift? Between £35,000 and £65,000, depending on materials and insulation class.
Operators who invest in covered courts tend to command higher booking fees (25–40% uplift in peak hours) and longer seasonal usage. Yet the capex burden makes ROI a slower climb — typically 6 to 8 years versus 4 to 5 for uncovered outdoor courts.
Operating Models and Revenue Potential
So what’s the return on investment? Based on figures from UKActive, Padel Club Insights and independent leasehold court operators, the average gross annual revenue per court is:
Outdoor court (peak and off-peak): £28,000–£42,000
Covered court (year-round): £45,000–£65,000
These figures assume:
£20–£40 per hour rental fees
50–70% court utilisation
Revenue from coaching, tournaments, corporate events or retail
Payback periods vary depending on site tenure. Leasehold models (especially those piggybacking on unused sports clubs) often reach breakeven by Year 3. Freehold builds tend to take longer but offer greater equity value and resale potential.
Hybrid models — where padel courts are appended to gym chains or multi-sport complexes — report the highest margins, particularly when bundled into memberships or app-based booking platforms.
Insurance, Safety and Liability
As of 2025, insurers treat padel facilities as a hybrid of tennis and squash environments. Public liability insurance for padel venues typically costs £900–£1,500 per annum per court, with additional premiums for coaching, tournaments, and under-18s access.
Builders must comply with:
BS EN 15330-1:2022 (artificial turf standards)
UKCA structural conformity
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, covering site access, signage and first aid
Failing to meet these criteria voids warranties and may result in regulatory fines or shutdowns. Some operators now enlist specialist consultants during pre-build phases to avoid costly remediation works after handover.
Government Support and Grants
While there is no ring-fenced national padel infrastructure fund (yet), operators have had success applying for:
Sport England Capital Grants
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) offsets
LTA’s Club Facility Loan Scheme (up to £250,000 repayable over 10 years)
In June 2025, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed that padel projects now qualify under the “Active Spaces” regeneration pilot — particularly in underserved or deprived urban postcodes.
Additionally, levelling-up grants and municipal planning incentives have enabled several public-private partnerships, with joint-venture builds opening in Manchester, Leeds and East Croydon.
What the Future Holds: Localism and Innovation
The next phase of growth appears set to favour local manufacturers and modular build solutions. British firm ModuCourt Ltd, based in Leicestershire, recently unveiled a flat-pack padel court that assembles in under 48 hours. The design meets all UKCA and CE standards and is eligible for lease-purchase terms starting at £795 per month.
Meanwhile, solar-powered lighting rigs and AI-controlled booking integration are entering the ecosystem — bringing padel closer to the tech-led gym models now common in urban fitness.
Even schools and universities are taking notice. According to The Schools Padel Access Survey (June 2025), over 100 secondary institutions are considering mobile padel court installations by 2026.
Conclusion: A Cost Worth Calculating
Padel court construction is not a speculative sport. It is an asset class in its own right — dynamic, cash-flowing, and increasingly governed by regulatory and material complexities.
Whether you’re a private investor, a sports club trustee, or a local council planner, understanding the true construction cost of padel courts — from groundworks to glazing — is essential. The decisions made today will shape not only margins, but the accessibility and permanence of Britain’s newest sporting obsession.
In the words of one industry insider: “Padel isn’t just a racket game. It’s infrastructure, economics, and energy — all disguised as fun.”
Financial Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, market conditions may change, and unforeseen risks may arise. The author and publisher of this article do not accept liability for any losses or damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of the information contained herein.
Copyright 2025: Tennispadel.uk
Picture: freepik.com