Padel Court Approved Within the South Downs National Park
How a private padel court was approved inside the South Downs National Park, navigating great crested newt licensing, bat surveys and Dark Night Skies policy.
PLANNING APPROVALSHORSHAMWEST SUSSEX
Andrew Ransome
8/12/20262 min read
In 2026, I secured householder planning permission for a private padel tennis court in Hardham, West Sussex — a site within the South Downs National Park and subject to some of the protective planning policies.
The Padel Court Planning Challenge
A padel court is not a small or discreet addition.
At 20m by 10.2m, with glass and mesh walls reaching up to 4m in height, the structure inevitably raises questions in a landscape where "great weight" must be given to conserving natural beauty under the NPPF.
Rather than downplay the scale of the proposal, the application was built around demonstrating that the chosen location — an existing garden, already occupied by outbuildings — minimised any net change to the site's character.
Ecology Constraints
This is where the application required the most careful handling. The site sits within the buffer zones for three separate protected habitat sites . A pond located approximately 75m from the property also had historic records of great crested newts (GCN).
The application included a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and Preliminary Roost Assessment, and a Bat Emergence Survey.
The applicant also joined the NatureSpace Great Crested Newt District Licence scheme. This licensing route allowed the development to proceed under an agreed set of mitigation measures without the need for a bespoke, standalone European Protected Species licence.
Addressing Noise, Design and Dark Night Skies
Padel courts have a reputation for generating noise complaints, so a noise assessment was commissioned early and submitted with the application. It concluded that predicted noise levels would sit well below the guideline values.
Design and landscape impact were addressed by emphasising what the court would replace an existing outbuilding.
Its mostly transparent glass and wire mesh construction and screening from mature boundary vegetation all supported the conclusion that the structure would not appear overbearing in the street scene.
Given the National Park's status as an International Dark Night Skies Reserve, no external lighting was proposed.
Planning Permission was subsequently granted for the padel court.
Planning Application Advice
Thinking of adding a garden structure, tennis or padel court, or outbuilding within a National Park or other sensitive landscape? Get in touch with me to see how I can assist with your project.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
Planning Approvals in West Sussex
Planning Application Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The content on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute planning or legal advice. Planning policy, legislation, and case law change over time, and every planning matter should be assessed on its own merits. No responsibility is accepted for any loss or action taken in reliance on the content of this site. The projects, planning applications and appeals presented on this website reflect professional work undertaken by, or involving me, throughout my career, including work undertaken in both my current and previous employment positions.