How to meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules when building padel courts in the UK
Serving up sustainability: Expert insights from
Integrated Land Management
Padel is booming across the UK. Whether it’s popping up in urban leisure centres, tennis clubs or commercial developments, new courts are springing up to meet surging demands. But as this fast-growing sport spreads, so does the need for developers and landowners to understand a key part of the planning process: Biodiversity Net Gain.
This guide with expert insights from Integrated Land Management (ILM) explains what BNG means for padel projects, why off-site units are often the best option, and how to stay compliant without delaying your build.
What is BNG and why does it apply to building padel courts?
BNG is now a legal requirement in England for most new developments, including sports and leisure facilities. If you’re:
Changing land use (e.g. converting a grassed area or paddock, replacing an old tennis court with padel courts)
Installing courts on undeveloped greenfield land or within urban brownfield sites
Constructing new buildings or hardstanding
…you’ll likely need to demonstrate that your project leaves nature in a measurably better state than before as per the legal requirement. This includes calculating your site’s biodiversity baseline, then showing a minimum 10% uplift using Natural England’s Statutory Biodiversity Metric.
Why Off-Site BNG can work best for padel
Under current BNG guidance, developers must initially prioritise delivering biodiversity uplift on-site where possible. But for padel courts, that’s often easier said than done.
These builds are compact, often hard-surfaced, and designed for regular use - sometimes from early morning into the evening. That intensity of use, combined with artificial surfacing, fencing, and lighting, can limit the ability to create or manage high-value habitats alongside the courts themselves.
Even where space exists, the presence of noise, light, and foot traffic may conflict with the conditions needed for meaningful biodiversity enhancement. Maintaining both at once, a thriving ecological area and a busy padel facility, can be difficult to maintain in practice.
That’s why off-site BNG is not just a fallback, but often the most practical and ecologically robust option for meeting BNG requirements - especially when paired with smaller on-site enhancements like green borders, wildflower planters or bat-friendly lighting.
Off-site units provide:
Flexibility to deliver BNG in more suitable areas
A straightforward path to compliance without redesign
Less risk of habitat disturbance post-development
Time savings during planning and consultation
If on-site BNG proposals are complex, non-viable, or likely to trigger objections (e.g. due to low ecological value or poor integration), developers often face delays refining designs or addressing feedback. Using off-site units from a fully registered gain site with legal agreements and monitoring already in place can streamline approval - especially where the LPA is familiar with the provider (like Integrated Land Management).
How Integrated Land Management support Padel Court Developers like Padel Magic UK with BNG
Integrated Land Management is a specialist BNG consultancy and unit provider. They manage a national network of registered Gain Sites and work directly with developers, planners, and clubs to make BNG simple and achievable.
Whether you’re working on a single site (like converting an existing tennis court) or a national rollout, Integrated Land Management can guide you through the biodiversity net gain process and supply the off-site biodiversity units required to meet your uplift obligations. ILM can help you:
Review the biodiversity metric for your proposed site
Source the most appropriate off-site units to match your project’s footprint and specific habitat loss
Ensure compliance with BNG trading rules
Provide the legal and planning documentation required for approval
Through their work with Padel Magic UK, ILM helps to bring together combined planning support, design expertise, and biodiversity compliance in one joined-up team.
Why work with Integrated Land Management?
Unlike some large platforms, ILM offers personal, expert-led support. You deal directly with the people who understand your project.
Their background in land management, farming and development gives them a practical understanding of what works on the ground. That’s why developers value their advice and landowners trust their judgement.
✓ Responsive and experienced
✓ Realistic, project-led advice
✓ Compliant, high-integrity biodiversity units ready to go
Don’t let BNG slow down your padel project
BNG doesn’t need to be another headache. With the right partner, it’s just another part of the planning process - and one that can bring real environmental value.
From padel clubs to multi-site leisure operators, ILM helps ensure that planning conditions are met, biodiversity commitments are delivered, and projects move forward without delay.
📩 Ready to build your next court?
Contact Integrated Land Management today to secure the off-site biodiversity units you need,
or visit www.integratedlm.co.uk to learn more about the process.
Want to avoid getting it wrong? Explore When BNG Goes Wrong (and how to get it right).
