Transform Your Space with Expert Padel Court Construction
Padel courts for private owners, sports clubs and commercial operators. Full project delivery under one roof.
Quality Construction for the Padel Revolution
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the UK. Over 1,000 courts are now in play across Britain, and that number is projected to reach 7,000 to 8,000 within a decade. The demand for well-built courts is running well ahead of the supply of competent builders.
Tomley Projects brings something different to this market. We are an established construction contractor with in-house groundworks, drainage, and civil engineering capability. We prepare the site, engineer the foundations, manage the drainage, oversee the court installation, and hand over a finished facility ready to play.
If you are building a padel court on private property, at a sports club, or as part of a commercial venue, the quality of the groundworks determines the quality of the court. That is where we excel.
Why Groundworks Matter
Groundworks and foundations account for 40 to 50 percent of total padel court build cost and are the part most likely to be underspecified or subcontracted out.
A padel court is anchored to a reinforced concrete ring beam with a playing surface levelled to within a 6mm tolerance under a 3-metre straight edge across the full 200 square metres. The drainage beneath it must handle sustained British rainfall without water pooling on the surface or sitting in the sub-base. Poor groundworks show up fast: uneven ball bounce, water that will not clear, and a surface that deteriorates well ahead of its expected lifespan.
Most UK padel installers are distributors for European manufacturers who subcontract the groundworks. That means two contractors on one project and no single point of accountability.
At Tomley Projects, groundworks and civil engineering are what we do every day. We have delivered hundreds of foundation and drainage projects across equestrian, agricultural, and commercial builds. We bring that same capability to padel, managed under one roof.
What We Build
We deliver turnkey padel court construction for private and commercial clients across South England. Every build is managed end-to-end by our team, from initial site assessment through to final commissioning.
Based in Oxfordshire, serving clients across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Surrey, and the wider Home Counties.
Private Estate Courts
Single or twin-court installations for country estates and private residences. We understand the planning sensitivities, aesthetic considerations, and access constraints that come with estate projects. Our existing client base includes professional equestrians, landowners, and estate owners who expect a high-class finish and minimal disruption.
Commercial and Club Facilities
Multi-court builds for padel operators, sports clubs, health clubs, and leisure venues. From 2-court starter sites to 6-court commercial facilities, we handle the full scope: groundworks, drainage, foundations, court installation, lighting, fencing, landscaping, and access infrastructure.
Indoor and Covered Courts
Indoor conversions and canopy-covered outdoor courts for year-round play. Indoor courts achieve higher utilisation and revenue in the UK climate, and we have the structural build experience to deliver enclosed facilities to the required specification.
Our Approach
Site Assessment and Feasibility. We visit the site, assess ground conditions, measure levels, review drainage, and identify any planning constraints. You get an honest assessment of what is feasible before any money is committed.
Design and Planning Support. We work with you on court positioning, orientation, access, drainage routing, and lighting layout. Where planning permission is required, we can provide technical drawings and support the application process. Noise, lighting, and neighbourhood consultation are addressed early.
Groundworks and Foundations. Excavation, drainage installation, sub-base preparation, concrete ring beam and porous asphalt base. All done by our own team.
Court Structure Installation. Steel frame, tempered glass panels, mesh fencing, artificial turf surfacing, sand infill, and LED lighting. We work with FIP-approved and LTA-compliant court systems sourced from established European manufacturers.
Finishing and Commissioning. Perimeter fencing, landscaping, access paths, and final quality inspection. The court is handed over ready to play.
Planning and Compliance
Planning permission is the single biggest source of delay in padel court projects. A realistic timeline for a multi-court venue is 8 to 12 months through planning, and that is before construction starts.
The most common objections are noise and lighting impact on neighbouring properties, particularly for outdoor courts within 50 metres of residential boundaries. Acoustic reports, lighting assessments, and neighbourhood consultation are frequently required. Indoor conversions typically face fewer objections but need change-of-use consent.
We have long-standing relationships with local authorities across South England through our equestrian and agricultural work. Planning permission is required for all new padel court builds under UK planning law. We understand the planning process, we know what objections to anticipate, and we prepare applications that address concerns before they become refusals. We provide technical drawings, site layouts, and drainage plans as part of our planning support.
Why Tomley Projects
- In-house groundworks and civil engineering. We do not subcontract the foundations. The most complex part of every padel build is done by our own team.
- Established construction business. Six years delivering complex builds across equestrian, agricultural, commercial, and private estate projects. Proven processes, insurance, and quality control.
- Premium client experience. Our clients are professional riders, competition yards, estates, and landowners. We bring the same standard to padel.
- Planning expertise. We work with local authorities regularly and know how to navigate planning applications, noise assessments, and environmental requirements.
- Single point of accountability. One contractor, one programme, one standard. We manage the full build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning permission is required for almost all padel court builds in the UK, whether new builds or change-of-use conversions. The main concerns are noise impact, lighting, and visual impact on neighbouring properties. Indoor conversions require change-of-use consent. We support the planning process with technical drawings, site layouts, and drainage designs.
Construction typically takes 8 to 16 weeks from breaking ground to completion for a multi-court facility. Single-court private installations take 4 to 8 weeks. Planning permission, which is a separate stage, can take 8 to 12 months for a multi-court venue. We recommend starting the planning process early.
Outdoor padel courts are weather-dependent, whereas indoor courts allow year-round play. Fully indoor courts require a structural enclosure with HVAC and lighting but generate the highest revenue for commercial operators. In the UK climate, covered or indoor courts are increasingly preferred.
You can build a padel court on an existing tennis court, and reusing a structurally sound concrete or tarmac surface significantly reduces groundworks costs. We assess the condition of the existing surface during the site visit and advise on whether it can be reused or needs to be rebuilt.
We are based in Oxfordshire and cover the South of England, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Surrey, Dorset, and the wider Home Counties. We will consider projects further afield for larger commercial builds.
We deliver the full turnkey padel court build end to end, including groundworks, drainage, foundations, court structure supply and installation, surfacing, lighting, and finishing works. We work with established European court manufacturers who supply FIP-approved and LTA-compliant court systems.
We are currently pursuing SAPCA accreditation and LTA approved contractor status. Our groundworks and construction credentials are fully established through six years of delivering complex builds across equestrian, agricultural, and commercial sectors.