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What we do

What we do

Our services

We specialise in the planning of sports courts and facilities

We help clients secure planning permission for padel courts and associated facilities across the UK. We identify potential planning constraints early, develop practical solutions, prepare robust planning reports and guide projects through the planning process, giving each scheme the best possible chance of securing approval efficiently and on schedule.

Core Planning Services

From initial site appraisal through to securing permission and discharging conditions, Padel Plan provides specialist planning advice at every stage of a padel development. We understand the issues that commonly arise with indoor, outdoor and covered courts and help clients identify risks early, develop the right planning strategy and progress proposals efficiently.

Initial Feasibility Assessments: We assess potential sites at an early stage to identify their planning prospects, key constraints and likely requirements. This can include reviewing planning policy, site designations, neighbouring uses, access, noise sensitivity, flood risk, ecology and other matters that could influence whether a site is suitable for padel.
Design and Layout Optimisation: Good design can make the difference between a straightforward planning application and a difficult one. We work with clients and design teams to optimise court layouts, buildings, canopies, access, parking and landscaping to respond to planning policy and minimise potential impacts on neighbouring properties and the surrounding area.
Pre-Application Consultation: Where appropriate, we prepare and manage pre-application enquiries with local planning authorities. This allows key planning issues to be tested before significant time and cost is committed to a scheme and can help establish the information required for a successful planning application.
Community Engagement: For proposals where local interest is expected, we can manage consultation with residents, businesses, councillors and other stakeholders. Early engagement can help explain the benefits of a proposal, identify concerns and allow potential issues to be addressed before an application is submitted.
Planning Application Preparation and Submission: We prepare and submit planning applications for padel developments of all types, coordinating the application process from start to finish. This includes preparing Planning Statements, reviewing supporting reports and drawings, managing validation requirements and liaising with the local planning authority through to determination.
Mitigation Strategies: Where potential impacts are identified, we work with the project team to develop practical mitigation measures. This may include changes to court positioning, operating hours, acoustic treatments, lighting design, landscaping, screening, access arrangements or other measures designed to make a proposal acceptable in planning terms.
Section 106 Agreement Negotiations: Where a planning obligation is required, we can advise on the scope of the agreement and assist with negotiations with the local planning authority. Our focus is on ensuring any obligations are necessary, proportionate and directly related to the proposed development.
Planning Appeals: Where planning permission has been refused, or an application has not been determined within the required period, we can advise on the prospects of appeal and manage the process on behalf of the client. This includes reviewing the reasons for refusal, developing the appeal case and preparing the necessary appeal documentation.
Discharging Planning Conditions: Securing planning permission is often only part of the process. We can coordinate and submit applications to discharge planning conditions, helping ensure the information required before construction or occupation is prepared and approved as efficiently as possible.

Commercial and Economic

Padel developments can raise specific planning policy issues where they involve the loss of existing employment land, occupy out-of-centre locations or introduce a new commercial leisure use. We prepare the commercial and economic evidence needed to demonstrate why a proposal is appropriate and support the case for development.

Town Centre Sequential Tests: Where a padel facility is proposed outside an existing town centre, a sequential assessment may be required. We identify and assess potentially available alternative sites and provide a clear evidence-based case demonstrating why the proposed location is suitable.
Retail Impact Assessments: For larger commercial leisure proposals, planning policy may require consideration of potential impacts on existing centres. We prepare proportionate Retail and Leisure Impact Assessments addressing the relevant national and local planning policy tests.
Employment Land Impact Assessments: Padel facilities are often proposed within industrial estates or existing commercial buildings. Where employment land policies apply, we assess the site's existing role and function and prepare the planning case for introducing a sport and leisure use.
Business Case Justification: We prepare supporting business case evidence explaining the operational requirements of a padel facility and why a particular site, building or location is needed. This can be particularly important where a proposal represents a departure from existing planning policy.
Operator Demand Evidence: Understanding how padel facilities operate is central to making a strong planning case. We can present evidence relating to operator requirements, court numbers, catchment areas, participation levels and customer demand to demonstrate the need for a proposed facility.
Viability and Sustainability Appraisals: Where viability or the long-term future of an existing site or use is relevant, we can coordinate and present evidence demonstrating why redevelopment or a change of use represents a realistic and sustainable planning solution.

Technical Assessments

Padel applications often require specialist technical evidence alongside the planning case. We can coordinate the necessary assessments through our network of trusted consultants, ensuring the work is proportionate, tailored to the proposal and aligned with the overall planning strategy.

Noise Impact Assessment: Noise is one of the most important considerations for many padel developments, particularly outdoor and covered courts. Specialist acoustic consultants can assess potential impacts on nearby receptors and recommend mitigation such as acoustic barriers, court orientation and appropriate operating hours.
Lighting Assessments: Floodlighting may require detailed assessment where courts are close to homes, ecological habitats or sensitive landscapes. Specialist lighting consultants can design schemes that provide suitable playing conditions while controlling glare and light spill.
Ecology Surveys: Where ecological constraints may be present, we can coordinate the appropriate habitat and species surveys. Early assessment helps identify potential issues and ensures suitable mitigation and enhancement measures are incorporated into the scheme.
BNG Assessments: Most planning applications in England are now subject to Biodiversity Net Gain requirements unless an exemption applies. We can coordinate habitat assessments, biodiversity calculations and the information required to demonstrate how the development will achieve the necessary level of BNG.
Transport Assessments: Depending on the scale and location of the development, transport evidence may be required to consider access, parking, trip generation and sustainable travel. We can coordinate Transport Statements, Transport Assessments and Travel Plans proportionate to the proposal.
Tree Surveys: Where existing trees are located within or close to a proposed development, an arboricultural assessment may be required. We can coordinate tree surveys and impact assessments to inform the layout and demonstrate how important trees can be retained and protected.

Beyond Padel

Expertise across sport, leisure and hospitality

Padel is often just one part of a wider leisure offer. Alongside padel courts, the Padel Plan team has secured consent for and advised on a wide range of complementary uses, both as part of larger padel projects and as standalone schemes.

We plan...

Padel

Padel is at the heart of what we do. We provide specialist planning advice for indoor and outdoor courts, canopies, clubhouses and complete padel venues, helping clients navigate planning constraints and secure permission for sites across the UK.

Pickleball

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing racket sports and shares many of the same planning considerations as padel. We have advised on pickleball courts alongside padel and as dedicated schemes, with particular attention to matters such as noise, lighting and residential amenity.

Golf simulators

Indoor golf simulators are a popular addition to padel venues, providing a year-round attraction that broadens a club's appeal. We have advised on their inclusion within new padel buildings and on the change of use of existing buildings for standalone simulator venues.

Therapy suites

Therapy and treatment rooms can add an important health and recovery element to a wider sports or leisure offer. We advise on their integration within padel clubs, gyms and wellness facilities, as well as proposals for standalone treatment and therapy spaces.

Saunas and cold pools

Saunas and cold plunge pools work well alongside padel, providing dedicated recovery and wellness facilities for players and members. We have advised on their siting and design as part of wider padel developments, as well as within standalone wellness and recovery spaces.

Fitness centres

Fitness centres can incorporate a wider mix of gym, studio, training and exercise facilities within a single destination. We advise on standalone fitness centres and their inclusion within larger sport and leisure developments, helping to address the planning considerations associated with more intensive leisure uses.

Gyms

Gyms are a natural complement to padel and can help create a more complete sports and fitness destination. We advise on new gym facilities, changes of use and their integration within larger padel and leisure developments.

Wellness centres

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Crèches

Crèche facilities can make sports and leisure venues more accessible to families and broaden their overall appeal. We advise on incorporating childcare facilities within larger leisure developments, including the planning and amenity considerations that can arise.

Cafés

Cafés and juice bars can play an important role in creating a welcoming and sociable club environment. We advise on café uses within padel and leisure venues, including their layout, operation and relationship with the wider development.

Retail Space

Retail space can complement a padel or leisure venue through the sale of sports equipment, clothing and other related products. We advise on incorporating ancillary retail areas within larger schemes as well as standalone retail proposals.

Coworking Space

Coworking space can complement padel and leisure venues by creating flexible places to work, meet and socialise before or after playing. We advise on incorporating coworking facilities within mixed-use leisure schemes, as well as the conversion of existing buildings to flexible workspace.