The second in a series of four editorials concerning the noise implications of padel in the UK, geared towards those who are developing or assessing padel courts. In this editorial we will explore everything you need to know about noise impact assessments for padel.
The truth is, new padel courts will have a noise impact on most of the sites that they are proposed, as the sound that it produces is highly impulsive. The question that a noise impact assessment (NIA) needs to answer is ‘What impact will it create and is it acceptable in the context of the environment?’
What is an NIA?
A noise impact assessment is a professional report that identifies the relevant buildings or areas that would be most affected by the new noise. It measures both the existing noise environment and predicts the new noise source,compares the results to standards and guidance, (of which there are a few – more about that in our next editorial) and quantifies whether the impacts of the new noise source are acceptable for planning approval. It can suggest noise mitigation where needed and predict what the effects of the mitigation would be.
When is an NIA needed for padel?
That depends on the local authority where you are applying for the permission, the type of development and what the local area looks like. In 2024 there were approximately 500 courts in the UK almost exclusively in the southeast and southwest of England, so at that time padel was more of an unknown quantity and some sites gained permission without NIAs. However, with a few years of negative media attention and some high-profile planning appeals, some local authorities are now insisting on NIAs for all padel developments and scrutinising them carefully. This aside, the requirement for an NIA typically increases with the size of the development and its proximity to other buildings, particularly residences, or areas of wildlife etc. Other factors such as the likelihood of receiving complaints, and what the existing noise levels are in an area may influence the need for an NIA also.
How do I know if I need an NIA for my development?
Some local authorities are insisting on NIAs with all padel applications now, but if you are not in one of those areas, then generally, if you think that noise may be an issue with your development, the likelihood is that the local authority would do also. Typically, if the site is close to residential houses (less than 50m as a general guide) then the likelihood increases and also if the proposed site is in a particularly quiet area, as the new sound is likely to be more intrusive.
It’s worth taking some time to look at similar applications in the local area and doing a little research into the local authority’s policies.
How is an NIA done?
That’s where acousticians come in, they would need to look at the site and identify those buildings or areas that may be sensitive to the new noise source and take measurements of the existing levels. That’s typically done by leaving the sound meters at the site for a few days or performing an attended survey over a period of time.
Then, in the case of padel NIAs in order to estimate what the impact of the proposed development would be, the consultant would need to have a knowledge of the specific noise padel courts create, generally by taking measurements from courts on another site. They should then be able to predict the levels of noise the court creates in each direction around the court and map this onto the proposed site. The new sound levels can then be calculated, either manually or by use of a model (a software program) for more complex sites.
The report should then relate the difference in noise levels to guidance to demonstrate, hopefully, a satisfactory level of impact.
What does a good NIA look like?
It’s worth remembering that most people, including planning officers, could not relate to the sound padel courts make in terms of decibels when written on a report; they are just aware of the fact that it creates impact noise and can be a complaint magnet. Therefore, a report which is clear and credible will allow the planning department to approve the application regards noise with confidence.
Most reports make reference to overall noise levels, which do not accurately describe the noise coming from padel, which is dominated by intermittent impact noise. A good report will compare the new and existing noise environments and show calculations to demonstrate that both the overall noise levels and impact noise levels of the proposed padel court are within acceptable limits, by linking the results to UK guidance.
Where do most NIAs fail?
In two areas mainly. Most NIAs fail to do a reasonable comparison of padel impact noise against the impulse/impact noise in the existing ambient environment. Without this comparison, it would be guesswork to judge the actual level of intrusion of the noise coming from padel and this will likely be picked up on by the local authority. More concerningly however, most fail in their use of existing measured data of padel. Most reports will say something like “we have measured the noise from a padel court to be X dB” and quote a single figure in decibels for use in a calculation, but do not say where that measurement was taken in relation to the court. As we explored in our first editorial ‘padel v tennis noise’ as you move around the outside of the court, the sound levels will change by 12 dB, making it over twice as loud at the sides of the court than at the end. This means that the calculation and the assessment could be wrong by a huge margin, before any other inaccuracies are taken into consideration.
At what point should I get an NIA?
That’s up to you. You could put an application in without one and the local authority will tell you if one is needed, but this can sometimes lead to delays which can give the community a greater opportunity to research the negative media surrounding padel and lodge objections. An advantage to involving an NIA at an early stage is that the acoustician should be able to advise on design to minimise noise pollution, and demonstrating this procedure can be useful in gaining permission. Input into the design at an early stage may minimise design costs and the need for additional mitigation.
In the next editorial we will explore the standards and guidance which can be linked to padel. You will be able to download all of the editorials and padel noise-related content here on our website.
You can read the first editorial from May Walters here on The Padel Paper.
About the Author
May Walters Acoustic Consultants (MW Acoustics) specialise in delivering noise assessments for padel and sporting facilities. In 2024 we independently researched and published a comprehensive noise assessment for outdoor padel courts, incorporating nearly 50 hours of measurements taken from padel and tennis courts to enable an effective comparison. The study demonstrated the direction of noise travel from the court but also revealed the content and frequency of impact noises created during play and indicated trends as to how noise will change with player skill level as padel courts become more established.
The research was presented to the IOA (Institute of Acoustics) and the CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health), where it is now been incorporated into their training content. The research has allowed construction of a model which enables noise propagation from a padel court to be accurately predicted, an essential step in helping developers gain consent for new courts in line with current UK planning guidance.
