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Turn unused school space into a modern sports facility with long-term lettings potential

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CourtForge helps schools, academies and education sites explore, plan and deliver padel court projects. Whether you are looking to improve pupil sport, increase community use, or create a new out-of-hours lettings opportunity, we can help you understand what is required and choose the right route for your site.

We can support with padel court supply, feasibility discussions, groundworks planning, installation coordination and aftercare guidance. Where specialist input is required, such as structural engineering, drainage design or planning advice, we can help identify what needs to be considered before work begins.

Request a School Site Assessment
Use Our ROI Calculator

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Why Padel Works Well for Schools

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Padel is a highly accessible racket sport that is easy to learn, enjoyable for a wide range of ages and suitable for different ability levels. For schools, it can provide much more than a sports facility. A well-planned padel court can become a valuable asset for pupils, staff, parents, local clubs and the wider community.

School sites are often well suited to padel because they may already have sports facilities, existing lettings arrangements, parking, community access routes and underused areas of land.

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A padel court can help schools:

Improve their sports facilities
Create a new activity for pupils and staff
Increase community use of the school site
Generate potential income through evening, weekend and holiday lettings
Make better use of underused land or hardstanding
Appeal to parents, local clubs and casual players
Support PE, enrichment, after-school clubs and wellbeing activities

Padel can be particularly attractive for schools that already hire out sports halls, 3G pitches, MUGAs, tennis courts, dance studios or other facilities outside school hours.

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A Sports Facility With Lettings Potential

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Many schools already generate income by hiring out facilities to the local community. Padel can fit naturally into this model, especially where courts can be accessed safely outside school hours.

Subject to planning, safeguarding, lighting, access and management arrangements, padel courts may be used before school, after school, during evenings, at weekends and throughout school holidays.

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The potential income from padel depends on several factors, including:

Local demand
Hourly hire rate
Number of courts
Opening hours
Lighting availability
Booking system
Access control
Maintenance costs
Management arrangements
Planning conditions
Noise or neighbour restrictions

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CourtForge can help schools think through the commercial side of a padel court project, including rough income modelling and practical site considerations before committing to a full proposal.

Try Our Padel ROI Calculator

Any income projections are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Actual returns depend on demand, pricing, utilisation, operating costs, management, planning conditions and other site-specific factors.

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Where Can Padel Courts Be Built on a School Site?

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Every school site is different, but padel courts may be suitable for a range of locations, including:

Unused grass areas
Existing hardstanding
Old tennis courts
Playground or yard areas
Underused sports zones
Areas close to existing lettings access routes
Locations near parking, lighting or power supply

A standard padel court playing area is 10m x 20m, but additional space is required around the court for foundations, access, drainage, construction, maintenance and safe movement.

When reviewing a school site, the main considerations include space, access, ground conditions, levels, drainage, nearby buildings, neighbouring properties, lighting, safeguarding, planning risk and how the courts would be managed outside school hours.

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Padel Court Options for Schools

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CourtForge can supply different padel court options depending on the site, budget and intended use.

 

Panoramic Padel Courts

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Panoramic padel courts are a popular option for schools and commercial sites because they offer a clean, modern appearance with excellent visibility. They are well suited to sites where presentation and user experience matter.

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Standard Padel Courts

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Standard padel courts can be a practical option where budget is a key factor. They provide the same core playing experience but with a more traditional court structure.

 

Covered or Canopy Padel Courts

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Covered padel courts can help improve usability during poor weather and may increase the number of playable days throughout the year. However, canopies add extra cost and may create additional planning, structural and drainage considerations, so they need to be reviewed carefully.

 

Single or Multiple Courts

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Some schools may begin with one or two courts, while larger sites or commercial lettings operators may consider a multi-court setup. If future expansion is possible, the layout should be planned carefully from the beginning.

 

Built Properly From the Ground Up

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A padel court is only as good as the base it is built on. For school sites, this is especially important because many possible locations are grass areas, existing playgrounds, old hardstanding or sports surfaces that were not originally designed for padel.

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CourtForge can help with the planning and coordination of the required preparation works, depending on the agreed scope.

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Typical groundworks considerations include:

Excavation and removal of unsuitable material
Sub-base construction
Drainage
Perimeter foundations or ring beams
Concrete or asphalt base construction
Ducting for lighting and access control
Final levels and falls
Access for plant and deliveries
Spoil removal and disposal
Making good the surrounding areas

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For courts built on grass, additional preparation is normally required compared with installation on an existing hardstanding surface. This may include excavation, geotextile membrane, imported stone, compaction, drainage and engineered foundation works.

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Final foundation, drainage and structural details should be confirmed by a suitably qualified structural engineer before works commence.

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Planning Permission and School Site Considerations

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Padel court projects may require planning permission or formal confirmation from the local planning authority, especially where the project includes lighting, canopies, fencing, changes in levels, increased community use or development close to neighbours.

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Schools should consider:

Planning permission
Permitted development rights
Floodlighting
Noise impact
Hours of use
Neighbour objections
Drainage approval
Building Control requirements
Safeguarding and access control
Landlord, academy trust or local authority approval
CDM responsibilities

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CourtForge can help identify practical issues to consider, but formal planning advice should be obtained from a planning consultant or the relevant local authority where required.

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CourtForge does not provide legal or formal planning advice. The client is responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions, consents and approvals before works commence.

 

Access, Security and Safeguarding

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For schools, the success of a padel court project is not just about the court itself. It also depends on how the facility is accessed, managed and kept separate from the main school site where required.

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Important considerations include:

Separate entrance routes for community users
Secure fencing and gates
Access control systems
Booking system integration
Lighting controls
CCTV considerations
Parking arrangements
Safeguarding boundaries
Clear signage
Emergency access

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Where courts are intended for public or community hire, these issues should be considered early in the design process.

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Our School Padel Court Process

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1. Initial Enquiry

We discuss your site, available space, number of courts, budget, timescale and goals for the project.

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2. Site Feasibility Review

We review the proposed location, access, existing surface, levels, drainage, planning considerations and practical buildability.

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3. Court Option Selection

We help you compare suitable court options, including panoramic, standard and canopy courts.

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4. Budget and Scope

We help separate the project into clear elements, such as court supply, groundworks, installation, lighting, access control and aftercare.

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5. Design and Engineering

Where required, structural engineers, drainage designers or planning consultants can be appointed to confirm the technical details.

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6. Groundworks and Base Construction

The site is prepared with suitable excavation, drainage, sub-base, foundations and court base works.

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7. Court Installation

The court system is installed in line with the manufacturer’s requirements and the agreed project scope.

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8. Handover and Aftercare

We provide handover information, basic maintenance guidance and optional ongoing support.

 

Why Work With CourtForge?

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CourtForge helps schools and commercial clients approach padel court projects properly from the beginning.

A successful school padel project needs more than just a court kit. It needs careful thought around cost, access, groundworks, planning, drainage, installation, future maintenance and commercial viability.

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CourtForge can help with:

School site feasibility
Padel court supply
Groundworks planning
Installation coordination
Contractor support
Access and lettings considerations
ROI discussions
Aftercare and maintenance planning

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As a new business established in 2026, we are clear and honest about our role. Where specialist design, planning or engineering input is required, we will recommend that the right professionals are involved.

 

Thinking About Padel Courts for Your School?

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Whether you are at the early idea stage or already comparing quotes, CourtForge can help you understand what is involved and what route may work best for your site.

Send us your site photos, approximate area, existing surface type and the number of courts you are considering, and we can help you take the next step.
Contact CourtForge
 

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School Padel Court FAQs

 

How much space does a school need for a padel court?

A standard padel court playing area is 10m x 20m, but additional space is needed for foundations, access, drainage, construction, maintenance and safe movement around the court. The final required area depends on the court type and site layout.

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Can a padel court be built on grass?

Yes. However, a grass site will usually require proper groundworks. This will include excavation, geotextile membrane, compacted sub-base, drainage, foundations and a suitable concrete or asphalt base. Grass sites are normally more involved than existing hardstanding sites.

 

Do schools need planning permission for padel courts?

Planning requirements depend on the site and proposal. Lighting, canopies, fencing, community use, noise, neighbours and location can all affect whether permission or formal confirmation is needed. Schools should seek advice from the local planning authority or a planning consultant.

 

Can padel courts generate income for schools?

Padel courts can potentially generate income through out-of-hours lettings, but returns are not guaranteed. Income depends on local demand, pricing, usage, operating hours, management, maintenance costs and any planning restrictions.

 

Are covered padel courts suitable for schools?

Covered courts can be suitable, especially where schools want more playable hours throughout the year. However, canopies add cost and may create additional planning, drainage and structural considerations.

 

Can CourtForge supply only the padel courts?

Yes. CourtForge can supply padel courts separately from groundworks or installation if required. The scope should be clearly agreed so each party understands their responsibilities.

 

Can CourtForge carry out the full project?

Depending on the site and agreed scope, CourtForge can help with court supply, groundworks, installation coordination and aftercare. Specialist design, engineering, electrical and planning services may need to be provided by suitably qualified professionals.

 

What should a school consider before starting?

Schools should consider available space, ground conditions, access, planning, drainage, power supply, lighting, safeguarding, community access, budget, management and long-term maintenance.

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