Finding sites for padel and leisure operators

Padel sites are often lost on height, footprint, drainage, evening noise or parking before the lease becomes the main question. I test those points early across industrial buildings, open land and underused space at tennis, golf and other sports clubs.

The FIP playing court is 10 m by 20 m internally. It requires at least 6 m of unobstructed height and suggests 8 m for new facilities; the LTA's indicative external area for one outdoor court is 20.80 m by 10.80 m before any outer play area. A multi-court venue needs more land for spacing, circulation, access and the parts of the business outside the glass.

What changes the search

• Court count, indoor, covered or outdoor format and whether out-of-court play is planned.
• Measured clear height across the full court zone, including beams, lights, ducts and door tracks.
• A layout that includes enclosure, gaps between courts, player access, reception, welfare and emergency routes.
• Site-specific foundation and drainage design; a canopy can add runoff and an attenuation requirement.
• Evening noise and floodlighting in relation to homes. LTA guidance says specialist surveys are likely where a home is within 50 m.
• Parking at the busiest booking changeover, including any overlap with tennis, golf, hospitality or club events.
• Lease length, fit-out period, utilities and the approvals needed from a host club, freeholder or head landlord.
• A 10 m by 20 m rectangle on a plan does not prove that the court, structure and circulation can be built.
• A high bay can still fail where the lowest obstruction crosses play.
• Host venues can bring parking, customers and amenities, but committee decisions and shared operations affect timing.

What I record on the first pass

• Measured plans and a height schedule rather than a headline floor area.
• A court layout against the whole usable site, not only the 10 m by 20 m playing rectangle.
• Nearest homes, proposed hours, lighting position and known planning history.
• Peak-time parking and shared access observed when the host venue is busy.
• The owner, club or agent contact and who can approve a long lease or host agreement.

What to send me

• Target towns, drive-time catchment and sites already reviewed.
• Court count, indoor or outdoor preference and minimum clear height.
• Reception, changing, food and drink, office and storage needs.
• Peak booking pattern, parking expectation and proposed opening hours.
• Lease term, host-venue model, fit-out budget and target opening window.

Further reading

• FIP Rules of PadelCurrent court dimensions and unobstructed-height rules.
• LTA Padel Court Construction Guidance NoteUK construction, footprint, drainage, noise and lighting guidance.

Common questions