Padel court construction is booming in the UK, with 872 planning applications submitted between January and July 2026 alone, already more than double the total for all of 2025.
Padel has gone from niche racket sport to one of the fastest-growing leisure investments in the country. Below, we dive into what’s driving it, what it costs, and what’s next.
Why padel is booming in the UK
Ed Griffiths, Head of Business and Client Analytics at Barbour ABI, explains:
“A few factors are coming together. Participation is growing rapidly, but the UK still has relatively limited court capacity.
The economics can be attractive too, with multiple courts able to generate significant revenue from a relatively small footprint. Leisure operators, sports clubs and property owners increasingly see padel as a way to diversify and monetise underused space, and investment is following that demand.
What started as an emerging sport is increasingly becoming an established leisure asset class. The interesting question now isn’t whether padel will grow, it’s how much capacity the market can ultimately support.”
How much does it cost to build a padel court?
According to Barbour ABI data, an average padel court costs around £71,000 to construct. That covers the surface, enclosure, lighting and the groundwork needed to get a court booking ready.
Maintenance costs stay relatively low across the court’s lifespan, and the playing surface typically lasts around 6 years before it needs replacing.
Padel court construction: What Barbour ABI data shows
Barbour ABI tracks planning applications across the UK, which gives the industry a real-time view of where padel is being built and by whom.
Right now, we’re tracking 1088 padel court projects on our Construction Project Leads Platform. Below are five padel court projects due to begin construction in the next 12 months.
Common Lane, Watnall – Padel Court Centre & Industrial Unit
At Common Lane in Watnall, an industrial unit and padel courts are being built following demolition of the existing site.
Value: £2.5m
Project status: Detail planning granted
Project ID: 12895960
Start date: March 2027
Image source: www.peterphilipdevelopments.com
School Lane, Bamber Bridge – Padel Court Centre & Retailing
On School Lane in Bamber Bridge, an existing unit is being converted into a padel centre with 4 courts and associated works.
Value: £500k
Project status: Detail planning approval sought
Project ID: 12918544
Start date: July 2027
Dudwick Farm, Buxton – Padel Court Facility & Cafe
At Dudwick Farm in Buxton, a warehouse is being converted to provide 6 padel tennis courts, along with changing facilities and a cafe.
Value: £400k
Project status: Detail planning approval sought
Project ID: 12894885
Start date: March 2027
Newlands Roundabout – Padel Court Centre
At Newlands Roundabout, a new padel court centre is being built, complete with a storage hut/kiosk, fencing and landscaping.
Value: £400k
Project status: Detail planning granted
Project ID: 12858908
Start date: December 2026
West 12 Shopping Centre – Padel Court Centre
The West 12 Shopping Centre will be changing the use of the building at second floor level from a cinema to a padel court centre.
Value: £300k
Project status: Detail planning approval sought
Project ID: 12910584
Start date: June 2027
What does the boom in padel court construction mean for leisure operators?
Padel has moved quickly from emerging sport to established leisure asset class. Planning applications have more than doubled year on year, and the current pace suggests that trend will continue through the rest of 2026.
For operators, clubs and developers, the focus is shifting from whether to invest to where they can host them. Site selection and understanding which areas already have suitable court coverage will matter more as the market matures and more projects move from planning into construction.
If you want to see where padel courts are being planned and built across the UK, book a demo of our Construction Project Leads Platform using the link above.
Contents
Why padel is booming in the UK
How much does it cost to build a padel court?
Padel court construction: what Barbour ABI data shows
Common Lane, Watnall – Padel Court Centre & Industrial Unit
School Lane, Bamber Bridge – Padel Court Centre & Retailing
Dudwick Farm, Buxton – Padel Court Facility & Cafe
Newlands Roundabout – Padel Court Centre
West 12 Shopping Centre – Padel Court Centre
What does the boom in padel court construction mean for leisure operators?
