Tennis court and sports facility design, construction and maintenance in the UK.

FAQ

Please read through our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have any questions, please contact us.

What range of sports do you cover ?
How big is a tennis court ?
Do I need planning permission for a private court in my garden ?
What about different tennis surface types ?
Is there much disruption during the construction process ?
How long does it take ?
What do you do with the soil you excavate ?
What about weeds and moss on the court ?
Do you install floodlights ?
Do you provide sports accessories ?

What range of sports do you cover ?

We design, construct and maintain facilities for a wide range of sports. We are primarily known for our tennis courts, however we have completed many multi-sports projects and dedicated courts for sports such as netball, basketball and roller-hockey.

How big is a tennis court ?

The actual playing dimensions of a doubles court are 23.77m long x 10.97m wide (78' x 36').

The standard domestic tennis court is 33.5m long x 16.5m wide (110' x 54'). This provides a 16' runback behind the baselines.

The LTA recommended minimum size for tennis clubs is 34.75m x 17.07m (114' x 56') A Championship-size court would be 36.58m x 18.29m (120' x 60')

Diagramatic plan of tennis court dimensions

The standard domestic size is normally adequate for private use; indeed courts may be constructed to smaller dimensions if space is limited.

Do I need planning permission for a private court in my garden ?

This does depend upon the particular authority, however generally permission may be required only for the surround fence if the court is in the confines of a private garden. Having said this, we have assisted several clients in showing their local authority that the court meets certain criteria and as such constitutes 'permitted development' not requiring planning permission.

The court itself requires permission if it involves a change of use of land; e.g. from agricultural.

Floodlights can be a planning problem, although see under 'Floodlights'

What about different tennis surface types ?

There are many different surface types. Some are tried and tested, others more experimental.

The most common surface type is the coloured, porous macadam which is durable, low maintenance and relatively inexpensive. The other popular surface is the sand-filled synthetic grass. The basic construction is the same as porous macadam but with the carpet laid on top and infilled with sand. The advantages of this surface are that it is aesthetically pleasing, blending in well with private gardens and is also more comfortable to play on. This surface does, however, require more maintenance than macadam.

There are other surfaces which fall into the 'club', 'tournament' or 'specialist' category, such as Impervious Cushioned Acrylic (sometimes known as American Cement) and European or American clay courts. Both these surface types are used extensively throughout the world in professional tournament play, however both surfaces have certain drawbacks with respect to all-weather playability and maintenance requirements.

Is there much disruption during the construction process ?

We keep disruption to the absolute minimum, however clients should be aware that building a tennis court involves a considerable amount of excavation and earthmoving, utilising large machinery and heavy plant. As with any construction project, weather also plays a major part in this. Our sites are kept safe and tidy, and cleared at the end of the works.

How long does it take ?

A single tennis court would take about three to four weeks to construct. For a painted macadam surface, the macadam needs a further three weeks to cure and harden before colouring can be applied. This takes one day. If seven to eight weeks is allowed, this should be sufficient, but factors such as site conditions, access, weather all affect construction period.

At the other end of the scale, a block of eight courts for a club, school or council would take approximately twelve weeks to complete including all necessary curing periods.

What do you do with the soil you excavate ?

Well, this depends on certain site factors. In an ideal world, the surplus excavated soil can be neatly spread and landscaped either around the court, or at least somewhere on the clients property. If soil has to be taken from site to be tipped elsewhere, this can add considerably to the cost of the project due to loading, transport and landfill tax costs.

What about weeds and moss on the court ?

We use a professional weed control contractor to treat all the courts we build or resurface. By using this company, we eliminate guesswork, and ensure correct chemicals and quantities are safely used. We recommend that our clients take out an annual maintenance contract with our contractor once the court is complete. This will keep weeds, moss and algae at bay, and will ensure that the court surface lasts well and stays safe to play on in damp conditions.

Do you install floodlights ?

Yes. There are many different systems available ranging from the 'Lo-Line' top of the range system to the domestic retractable variety. The fixed system is normally installed at tennis clubs where a specified level of illumination is required under which to play county tennis and club matches. The retractable system is certainly the most popular in domestic situations. It is considerably less expensive than the other types and has the advantage of being more 'planning friendly'.

Do you provide sports accessories ?

Yes. We can supply a wide range of sports accessories such as tennis practice ball machines, practice nets, practice walls etc., basketball, netball and soccer goals, rackets, balls etc. We can also provide line markings for other sports such as basketball.