The Padel and Pickleball Surge in the UK

You see Padel and pickleball rising fast. Padel participation more than trebled in 2024, hitting 400,000 active players by the end of 2024. That’s up from just 15,000 in 2019 and 129,000 at the start of 2023. The number of courts has also surged with over 1,000 Padel courts across 325 venues in the UK. That’s a 44% increase in just seven months and a near tenfold increase since 2020.

Pickleball is growing quickly as well. According to Sport England, over 27,000 people played the sport at least once last year across more than 270 venues. Pickleball England has seen a 73% increase in registered players in 2024, with growth set to accelerate again in 2025.

Growing Infrastructure

New courts are appearing in sports parks, private clubs and converted tennis centres. Operators are investing in indoor facilities and lighting to keep pace with demand. In some towns, Padel courts have outpaced squash and indoor tennis usage.

Powerleague is one example. The 5-a-side operator is investing £14 million to build 76 Padel courts at 17 locations by 2026, aiming to serve 200,000 users a year. Local councils are also supporting development, with several schemes in planning across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.

Benefits for Tennis Businesses

You can fit three Padel or Pickleball courts into the footprint of one tennis court. That increases usage, membership options and commercial returns, especially if you’re limited on space. Many clubs now offer Padel courts indoors and hybrid access to both tennis and Padel to retain members and attract new ones.

Pickleball offers similar benefits. The setup is low-cost, with multi-use surfaces that fit into leisure centres or school gyms. For underused sites, adding pickleball can reinvigorate facilities with minimal expenditure.

Infrastructure and Construction Needs

To plan new courts, you need:

• Land and planning for small, enclosed courts with glass and mesh
• Surface prep for concrete with proper drainage
• Sound insulation indoors to reduce noise complaints
• Lighting, fencing, access, and club amenities like changing rooms
• Repurposing old tennis areas

Pickleball could use existing courts but you’d need to ensure need grounds are resurfaced, new marked zones and nets.

How Survey Solutions Helps You

For accurate data and increased efficiency. Survey Solutions can support you with:

• Land surveys and planning boundary checks
• Topographical terrain assessments and design drainage
• Subsurface investigations for ground prep or enclosure walls
• Noise monitoring and mitigation advice for indoor and outdoor courts
• Construction layout and quality control surveys at build stage
• Post build as‑built surveys for lease, asset register, or facilities management

These services can reduce delays and cost overruns, giving you accurate site insight so planning succeeds and infrastructure fits right first time.

Padel and Pickleball are rising fast in the UK. Courts and membership are booming. They offer profitable alternatives for tennis venues. Building courts requires clear site planning, sound control, drainage, and smart reuse. Survey Solutions brings the operational edge you need so you can plan, build, and play with confidence!