Padel Court Noise Assessments

Where we can help

We advise on:

• New padel facilities
• Courts at existing tennis, golf and sports clubs
• Conversions of tennis courts to padel
• Changes to hours of use
• Covered courts
• Responding to Environmental Health comments
• Discharging noise conditions

Why padel needs careful acoustic design

Padel has a different acoustic character from tennis. As well as racket strikes and players’ voices, balls hitting the glass end walls and mesh surrounds produce short, repeated impacts. The character of these impacts and how often they occur can matter alongside the average sound level. Proposed hours of play also need to be considered.

The enclosure offers opportunities to control sound. Solid end walls can provide screening, while the position and orientation of courts affect the noise reaching nearby homes. These choices are best made while the layout can still change.

How we assess your courts

1. Review the proposals. We consider the number and position of courts, neighbouring properties and proposed hours of use, then identify suitable assessment criteria. We discuss the approach with Environmental Health where appropriate.
2. Survey and model. Where required, we measure the existing noise environment. A 3D model predicts the likely effect of the courts at neighbouring properties.
3. Test the design. We compare alternative locations, layouts and orientations and assess mitigation where needed.
4. Report and support. We assess the final scheme against the relevant criteria and prepare a report for the Local Authority. We can respond to acoustic queries during planning and assist with noise conditions after permission is granted.

How padel noise is assessed

There is no single British Standard written specifically for padel court noise. We consider average sound levels and the character of individual impacts, together with how often they occur, the proposed hours of use and the existing noise environment. We follow emerging guidance and select an assessment approach suited to the site and the questions raised by the Local Authority.

Practical ways to control padel noise

Our starting point is the court arrangement. Moving or rotating courts, increasing separation from homes and making use of the screening provided by end walls, existing buildings and topography can reduce the need for additional measures.

Where further mitigation is needed, we can assess barriers, screens, fencing, canopies or enclosures, alongside appropriate management measures such as hours of use. Their effectiveness depends on their design and position, so we assess them as part of the overall scheme.

Our padel court experience

Tennis club. A club proposing new padel courts faced objections from neighbours. We consulted the club, neighbours and Environmental Health, developed an alternative court location and screening, and agreed appropriate criteria with the council. The assessment took account of existing tennis activity and other local noise sources, and showed that predicted court noise at surrounding homes would be below existing noise levels. The scheme was approved.

Cricket ground. A cricket ground proposed padel courts close to neighbouring homes. We modelled the likely impact and considered it against existing noise at the site. By locating the courts to make use of the existing topography and buildings as screening, the assessment showed a low impact at neighbouring properties.