Jason Douglass: How UK padel facilities can drive a sustainable future

As one of the fastest growing emerging markets for padel globally, the UK has a key role to play in shaping the future of the sport – including its approach to environmental sustainability. Here, Jason Douglass – founder of UK-based consultancy Elevate Sports, which specialises in the strategic development of sports and leisure facilities, and former chair of the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA), the UK trade association representing the sports construction industry – examines the key issues facing the UK’s padel sector around sustainability, and outlines how operators can develop sites that take care of the environment and create a positive impact.

Setting the standard: SAPCA compliance as the foundation

As padel continues its rapid rise across the UK, the sports facilities industry has a unique opportunity to build padel sites that are not only high-performing but genuinely future-proof. The starting point for this is compliance with the SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts, which sets the benchmark for quality, safety and long-term performance.

SAPCA’s standards emphasise responsible material selection, robust construction methods, safe and durable playing environments, and lifecycle-led planning and maintenance. Embedding these principles from the outset ensures that every padel facility is built on a foundation of technical integrity and environmental responsibility.

A sport growing at pace

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, creating both opportunity and responsibility for developers, operators and governing bodies. The challenge is no longer simply how quickly courts can be delivered, but how intelligently they are designed, constructed and managed. Because most UK padel courts are still yet to be built, the sector has a rare chance to integrate sustainability from day one rather than retrofitting solutions later.

Designing for environmental performance

Thoughtful design is the most powerful sustainability tool available to padel facility developers. This includes orientation of courts to maximise natural daylight, efficient LED floodlighting with smart controls, recycled products in court base materials such as recycled aggregate and drainage pipework, and climate-responsive planning for drainage solutions.

Modern sustainable design also includes solar PV integration where roof and open space allow, battery storage solutions, smart energy management, and low-energy heating and ventilation for covered and indoor structures.

Materials, carbon and circularity

Sustainable padel facilities prioritise durable, recyclable materials such as aluminium and steel structures, deliberate selection of higher specification monofilament artificial turf systems, and recycled and/or bio-based resins in facility furniture and sports equipment.

In the planning stage of a facility, the materials’ end-of-life management is rarely featured within new project development minutes – why would it be you might ask!

However, those operators who are legitimately interested in maximising the environmental footprint of their facilities will be mindful of the solutions required to replace and recycle the components that reach their end-of-life relatively soon.

For example, artificial turf has a typical design service life of four to five years when installed at busy facilities. Recycling solutions for artificial turf in the UK are currently very limited, with ongoing research happening right now by Sport England and various sports governing bodies to determine the best solutions.

Land-filling end-of-life materials as waste should not be an acceptable long-term solution for those developing and operating professional and environmentally considerate facilities. There are solutions for recycling turf in the UK, but each site operator must weigh for themselves the recycling options available to them and consider how they will hold their responsibilities.

Water management, BNG and sustainable drainage

To meet UK SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) expectations and reduce environmental impact, facilities can incorporate permeable base systems, rainwater harvesting, and planted drainage zones such as swales, where site conditions allow.

These measures can reduce surface water runoff rates, protect local watercourses and improve site biodiversity. Where a project development requires a new build footprint greater than 25m² (as all new build padel facilities will), then mandatory planning requirements for biodiversity net gain (BNG) apply.

The BNG planning obligation for qualifying sites is to secure a baseline reading of biodiversity on the proposed site; this is reported and a plan for baseline plus 10% is required to be implemented either on the site or with offsite credits and their associated long-term responsibilities.

While new government guidance on BNG exemption for sites of less than 0.2 hectares is yet to be published, the existing rules apply. Through careful design of a site there can be opportunities to satisfy BNG requirements through environmental enhancement features including habitat creation, habitat improvement, and the installation of specialised infrastructure to support local wildlife.

Modular construction and meanwhile sites

Padel courts and their associated canopies can in some cases be dismantled and relocated, reducing wasted embodied carbon and enabling reuse. The modular nature of courts and canopies allow operators to activate ‘meanwhile sites’, and extend the useful life of infrastructure by relocating facilities, where the business model allows.

This approach minimises construction product waste at end-of-life, or end of lease, and encourages repurposing and reuse multiple times. While it’s true that rarely are two sites identical, when the right criteria is met the industry can demonstrate its versatility in product use and repurposing prowess.

Meanwhile, sites are increasing access to padel for many city-based workers who are benefitting from the ongoing redevelopment of brownfield sites and gentrification projects still happening across the country. These developments are opening up more opportunities for padel operators to bring their facilities into the heart of the cities and towns in greater numbers.

Operational waste and equipment sustainability

Sustainable operations can be introduced into padel facilities, including venue-wide recycling stations, composting of landscaping waste, partnerships with recycling organisations for spent padel balls, or the introduction of ball re-pressurisation systems at clubs for players to extend ball life, such as the Preserva product.

Campaigns within clubs to encourage members to recycle equipment can foster a culture of environmental sustainability; for example, numerous programmes such as Nike Grind have existed for years whereby end-of-life trainers and clothing can be collected and repurposed into new products, by partnering with third parties. At no cost to the club, these partnerships encourage an attitude of environmental consideration among their members.

Social value, noise and community integration

Environmental sustainability is only one part of responsible facility development. Noise management strategies, accessible design, and community engagement ensure padel venues are good neighbours and inclusive spaces.

This can include appropriate acoustic treatments in various forms including fencing, glass walls, and specialist barriers from the likes of Piranha. Design features such as step-free access, accessible viewing areas, and partnerships with schools and community groups help bring padel to all.

Conclusion

Padel’s growth presents a defining opportunity for the UK sports sector. By grounding facility development in SAPCA’s Code of Practice and embracing sustainable design, responsible material choices, renewable energy solutions, careful water management across a site and the benefits of modular construction and the versatility it offers, the industry can set a new benchmark for environmentally responsible sports infrastructure.

If the principles of designing with the environment in mind are applied consistently, the next generation of padel facilities will not only support the sport’s expansion but demonstrate how modern sports environments can be commercially successful, environmentally responsible and genuinely community focused.

• Jason Douglass is founder of Elevate Sports, and former chair of the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA). He can be contacted at: [email protected]

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