The fourth 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 reduce noise (mitigation techniques) for padel courts.
There are limitations to most types of mitigation, but it can produce good results if used correctly. Interestingly, we have found that the best forms of mitigation are also the cheapest.
Why is noise mitigation important?
It’s important not only to reduce the noise impact to get through a planning application, but also to reduce the risk of complaints and maintain good relations with the local community. Some sites will require mitigation regardless of good design, due to the proximity of local housing or other areas such as sensitive ecosystems. If the existing ambient noise levels are unusually low or high, there may be a requirement for itigation. So it’s important to know what the options are and how effective they can be.
What’s the cheapest and most effective way to reduce noise in a planned facility?
Design. If you are building a padel facility you can save a lot of time and money by having noise in mind right from the very beginning, from site selection through the design process. A design that accounts for noise will minimise most noise issues, possibly prevent the need for additional mitigation or at the very least should alert you at an early stage as to what mitigation measures will be required. In this way you can build them into your budget and won’t waste time and money having to redesign.
What does a good noise reduction design look like?
Good design comes from an understanding where sound comes from in a padel complex and where the areas surrounding the development are, which are sensitive to this sound. This can be as simple as orienting the courts in the right way so that the court wall acts as a natural barrier, or constructing the layout of the site so that planned or existing structures do the same. Padel is a sociable game, players will congregate during matches and create noise, a good design can anticipate this and encourage players to pool in areas that will allow an increased noise level. A good design reflects an awareness of the noise issue of padel, it can pay for itself in securing local support and planning consent, and demonstrating this can be a requirement in some circumstances. A good acoustic consultant should be able to advise on this and work with your architect to get the best results.
How effective are barriers?
Effective up to a point. A barriers efficiency depends on a number of factors including location. A barrier will reduce sound levels via line of sight only, as sound can travel over and around it (or through it if there are gaps), so it is typically more effective as it gets close to the source or the receiver. Clearly, there are limits to how high the barriers on some sites can be, so they may be less effective in reducing sound travelling to upper floors of adjacent buildings. Equally it’s worth remembering that barriers reflect sound, as do most buildings and the boundary walls on the padel courts. Sound can be bounced between barriers as it spreads, so siting of barriers needs to be planned if it’s going to be effective. More complex sites may require a model to predict the spread of noise, a good acoustic consultant should be able to advise on this at an early stage.
Do trees and hedgerows act as barriers?
Only to a small extent. Vegetation can block the view from a padel court which may reduce the visual impact and solve some of the light pollution issues associated with a court, but sound can travel through the gaps between the leaves and branches quite effectively. If you hear a music venue from a distance, it’s typically the low frequency beats that are more audible, as it’s this type of sound that travels the furthest. A barrier needs to be heavy or dense to reflect low frequency sound, so thin wooden fencing panels have a limited effect also, whereas a brick wall or specialist acoustic screen can be quite effective.
How do roof coverings affect noise from a padel court?
It is logistically quite awkward to measure the noise travelling above the padel court (we know, we have tried it), but a roof covering made from the right material will reflect sound back into the court and this will reduce the risk of noise affecting higher floors on adjacent high-rise buildings. Equally, however, the sound that is reflected back into the court will likely go out of the sides and the end of the court at ground level which may be an issue in some sites. The high roof areas required in padel, however, would create more resonance (a bit like standing in a theatre) which may increase the overall noise level, but will also flatten out the impact noise, making it a little less sharp and impactive.
What else can we do?
A Noise Management Plan (NMP). It costs very little, but this is no more than a formal plan that you can use to help you monitor and control issues. An NMP will allow you to reduce noise more effectively towards specific issues, i.e. by sympathetic scheduling of court use, maintenance of equipment or adjustments in way of working. More importantly, it allows this to be delivered effectively over the long term and reduces issues before they become a problem. Local authorities tend to like them also.
You will be able to download all of the editorials and padel noise-related content here – https://maywaltersacoustics.co.uk/blog/
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.
