The latest luxury amenity… how Padel is set to become hot property for Surrey homeowners
A recent trend that is taking the Surrey sporting scene by storm is the sport of Padel. This exciting new sport, a cross between tennis and squash, has captured the hearts of Surrey’s sporting enthusiasts, sports clubs and homeowners alike. As Surrey sports clubs slowly adopt the new sport, home installations of Padel courts are set to become the latest luxury amenity for high-net-worth homeowners.
Padel, which originated in Mexico but gained immense popularity in Europe, is now taking Surrey by storm. This fast-paced, addictive sport is played on an enclosed court with glass walls, about a third of the size of a tennis court. Typically played in doubles, the sport combines elements of tennis and squash, making it easy to learn for beginners while still offering a challenge for seasoned players.
Whilst the United Kingdom is slow to adopt the new sport, compared to our European neighbours, more and more Padel courts are popping up across the country. Here in Surrey, several clubs already boast Padel courts. Two of those clubs are sponsored by Curchods, Oxshott Village Sports Club and Esher Lawn Tennis Club. Oxshott Village Sports Club has recently opened two state-of-the-art Padel courts with plans to open a further two courts in the future. Meanwhile, Esher Lawn Tennis Club opened their two floodlit all-weather Padel courts in 2021. So far 11 sports clubs across Surrey have adopted Padel, with more planning to put a new Padel court pride of place soon.
With Padel having gained international popularity, could Padel courts soon become the latest luxury amenity for prime properties? With home installations of tennis courts a fairly common luxury outdoor amenity for high-net-worth individuals, we spoke to Paul Regan of PRO Padel Courts, the only UK manufacturer of Padel courts, to find out more about the possibility and popularity of home installations of Padel courts.
Can I install a Padel court at my house?
Yes, in the same way that properties possess tennis courts in the garden/estate. A Padel Court is smaller than a tennis court and has an artificial grass (astro) playing surface, which plays well even in damp or wet conditions.
Do I need planning?
Yes, especially if you are planning on installing lighting. One potential issue with Padel, from a planning perspective is the noise. It makes a very different noise to playing tennis as the racket is solid (not strung) so there is a much louder ’thud’ from the bat.
How much space do I need?
A Padel Court is 20m long by 10m wide, so a space that is 22m x 12m would be perfect.
What’s the difference between installing a tennis court and Padel court at my property?
The footprint of a tennis court is twice as big as a Padel court. The process of constructing the base is very similar, other than needing a significant concrete ring beam around the perimeter of the Padel court, to which we secure the steel and glass structure. A Padel court weighs around 5 tonne so it needs to be secured into concrete and not into tarmac.
Can I convert an existing tennis court into a Padel court?
You certainly can and we have helped many of our clients achieve this. There is however a misconception that there is very little groundwork required to achieve this, but as stated above, we require a concrete beam to secure the Padel court structure to. We do however use the existing tennis court surface, and puncture / perforate it to increase its porosity and simply lay a new layer of tarmac over the top to be flush with the concrete beam.
How much does it cost to install a Padel court?
There are two very distinct elements to consider; the court structure and the groundworks. The court structure is £35,000 installed, including lights, and around £33,500 without lights. The groundworks however have many variables and is difficult to estimate. The elements that escalate the costs include poor access to the site, a lot of ground clearance, the need to take all the spoil off site and the increase of materials in certain ground types. We suggest that a budget cost for a fully installed court should be in the region of £70,000.
Here’s a complete list of Padel courts in Surrey:
Weybridge Padel Club – Weybridge – 1 court
Pavilion Club – East Molesey – 1 court
Tennis England Club – East Molesey – 4 courts
Esher Lawn Tennis Club – Esher – 2 courts
Oxshott Padel Club – Oxshott – 2 courts
Beaverbrook – Leatherhead – 1 court
Epsom Lawn Tennis Club – Epsom – 3 courts
Ashtead Squash and Tennis Club – Ashtead – 1 court
Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club – Surbiton – 2 courts
The Bourne Club – Farnham – 1 court
The Limpsfield Club – Oxted – 2 courts
