Padel court on farmland: everything you need to know

"Can I build a padel court on farmland?"-this is one of the most frequently asked questions by customers. Normal, given the widespread popularity of the sport and its benefits, including economic ones. In the following article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about why and how to turn a farmland into a playing field, the best types of synthetic turf, padel facilities, and the services offered by Italgreen.

• Can I always build a padel field on agricultural or urban land?
• What is the process to follow?
• Who do I contact and what services does Italgreen offer?
• What types of synthetic turf are most suitable?
• Can I install padel structures?
• What are the economic advantages of a padel field on agricultural land?

Over 1 million practitioners but with a potential pool exceeding 2.5 million. Over 1,580 clubs and 3,940 courts currently affiliated with FITP ( Italian Tennis and Padel Federation), where in 2020 there were 463 and 812 respectively (FITP data).

It seemed to be a passing fad: in just a few years, it has instead turned into a solid reality with numbers testifying to its increasing diffusion in our country. Padel - a sport that combines action, fun and social interaction, suitable for players of all ages and abilities - is now a recognized phenomenon in Italy as well.

Thanks to the growing affluence that padel courts are registering and the limited maintenance they require, in fact, installation costs can be amortized in a short time.

Can I still build a padel court on agricultural land?

No, it is not always possible to build a padel court on agricultural land. Generally speaking, agricultural land is not intended for building purposes. To build a padel court on this type of land, it is necessary to apply for a zoning variance to transform the area into building land. This process depends strictly on the relevant municipality and local regulations.

To sum up, no, you cannot freely build a padel court on agricultural land without permits. You need a change of land use.

Infact, in the event that the land conformation is suitable, it is possible to apply to one's municipal authority to convert the area of interest into a building area,which makes it totally legal to build a padel court on land that was initially agricultural. The final decision is up to the municipality's technical department, which must provide a set of building indexes and specifications to be met related to the construction of the padel court.

If the installation of the playing field does not violate any particular landscape or environmental constraints, this step will then turn out to be a regulatory formality, which will not slow down the start of activities much. Don't despair, your customers will be able to wield their paddles before you know it!

Padel court on unbuildable land: can it be done?

The construction of a padel court on non-building land ( whether agricultural or otherwise) follows the same logic: it is not allowed without a zoning variance authorizing the change of use. In the absence of this procedure, any construction would be illegal and therefore subject to penalties and demolition orders.

What is the process to be followed?

There are some bureaucratic steps to be completed before installing a padel court on farmland:

1. submit a preliminary application to the municipal technical office to find out whether it is possible to open a padel court on the land in question
2. in case of a positive response, apply for the SCIA or PdC building permit
3. accompany the building permit applicationwith the details of the project ( geometric, aesthetic, functional and structural aspects of the work)
4. ask a licensed engineer to proceed with soil sampling to assess its suitability
5. after obtaining the building permit, start the work and open the construction site

Who do I contact for my padel court project on agricultural land?

First and foremost, it is essential that you turn to qualified suppliers: a well-done,purpose-designed project can be the key to making sure that you can build a padel court on farmland.

An experienced supplier such as Italgreen-we have been working in the sports facilities and synthetic turf industry since 1983-will assist you step by step in building your playing field with:

• inspection and topographical survey
• technical and economic feasibility study
• elaboration of the project
• construction site and installation of the artificial turf and complementary works

What type of synthetic grass do I install?

Whether it's a padel field on farmland or a playing field within an existing facility, at Italgreen we recommend three types of synthetic turf, designed and produced specifically for the sport:

• Padel Mono, our solution consisting of polyethylene monofilaments with a height of 12 mm, combining maximum aesthetic impact with high performance;
• Padel Fib, the highest-performance model in our catalog, characterized by maximum playing speed and lateral glide;
• Padel Pro, made of textured, 10 mm high polyethylene fibers and used at the highest levels of competition, including International Padel Federation (FIP) events. This product is the ultimate solution for the most equipped and demanding sports facilities, and is available in four colors (blue, red, green and black).

The advantage of these synthetic turfs is that they are UV and weather resistant, so that the padel court can be used all year round and even after heavy rains.

All exposed solutions guarantee:

• excellent ball bounce that does not interfere with the speed of play
• perfect foot support and grip even during twisting and changes of direction
• shock absorption and energy return
• balance between grip and glide
• high elastic memory, which ensures that the fibers return to their vertical position immediately after stepping on them.

Are the structures also good for a padel court on farmland?

Absolutely. Are Italgreen padel structures the latest innovation on the market?

• they do not rust
• withstand a variety of weather conditions
• require very little maintenance
• are lightweight and easy to install

In addition, if your farmland padel court is indoor, you can also choose from three different types of covers that can be customized as needed.

What are the economic advantages of a padel court?

Regardless of whether your padel court is built on farmland or not, the economic benefits to you are substantial.

First, the widespread popularity of the sport, which has now almost reached 11,000 registered FTI practitioners-in short, you are assured of never running out of customers!

Second, if you are uncertain between a tennis court or a padel court on farmland, know that the former measures about 18m x 36m. You can build almost three padel courts in this space: that is, you more than double your earnings when you consider the 4 padel players versus the two tennis players per game.

In short,a padel court on farmland is not only an excellent opportunity for sport and recreation for the people in the municipality where you are located, but also an important source of income for you.

Do you want to open a padel court on farmland? Choose Italgreen: we assist you in all stages, from the evaluation of urban planning feasibility to the turnkey construction of the padel court!