Most padel projects in Britain stall at the same point: the courts are agreed in principle, and then someone asks how they will be paid for. LTA padel funding can cover part of the answer for the right venue, but it comes with eligibility rules, loan conditions and paperwork that are worth understanding before you spend money on drawings.
This guide is for tennis clubs, padel clubs, sports centres, schools, community venues and commercial operators. It covers what the LTA offers, who qualifies, what the loan looks like and what to have ready before you apply. Terms can change, so check the LTA before applying.
Yes. The LTA is the national governing body for padel in Great Britain, and padel has its own site at LTA Padel.
In September 2024 the LTA announced its Padel Strategy 2024 to 2029. The first phase, to the end of 2026, set out to grow the number of courts from 350 to 1,000 and annual players from 129,000 to 400,000. The court target came early: on 17 July 2025 the LTA announced that Great Britain had reached 1,000 padel courts at 325 venues.
For a venue planning courts, that matters in two ways. Demand is there, and the governing body wants more courts that the public can actually book.
LTA padel funding is not one grant. It is a mix of a loan scheme and practical support, and most projects end up combining it with other finance.
The LTA also has area Delivery Managers who can advise on a project, and it publishes a venue fundraising guide with advice on sponsorship. Its padel facilities page is the best starting point.
The LTA padel loan is the Facility Loan Scheme, run by the LTA Tennis Foundation. It covers outdoor and covered padel and gives priority to covered courts. Its aim is covered or floodlit facilities for community play all year round, more people playing, pay and play and coaching for non-members, and growing adult and junior coaching programmes.
The scheme covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not included.
Some older LTA pages still describe the loan as interest free. That wording is out of date, so plan around the 5% rate.
The scheme looks at each case on its own merits, but the criteria are clear enough to tell early whether you fit.
Likely fit
May need other finance
If you run a commercial padel business, the loan will usually be out of reach. Private finance is the realistic route, and MejorSet works with finance partners who fund padel courts and clubs.
Possibly. Run through this before you contact the LTA:
If most of these are ticked, the Facility Loan Scheme is worth a conversation. If not, look at the alternatives further down.
The scheme prioritises covered courts for an obvious reason: British weather. A covered or floodlit court can be booked on a wet November evening, and that is when community play and coaching programmes are won or lost.
A canopy is a specialist structure. MejorSet does not supply canopies, but its courts can be installed under a canopy or roof from a specialist as long as the clear height allows it. The LTA reminds venues that indoor structures and canopies need planning approval of their own. Our guide to indoor vs outdoor padel courts goes through that decision in more detail.
Uncovered courts need to be built for the climate. MejorSet courts use a structure in Magnelis® steel with a QUALICOAT® certified paint coating, which makes them a corrosion resistant choice for wet and exposed sites. The Premier, FIP, Full Panoramic and Panoramic RC10 models are rated for 140 km/h wind loads. Standard models use 12 mm toughened glass, which meets the LTA specification for outdoor courts. The standard outdoor surface is monofilament turf, which drains better and retains less heat in wet, sunny or humid conditions. MejorSet works with Mondo.
How much does a padel court cost? It depends on more than the court. The LTA publishes indicative cost ranges in its Padel Court Construction Guidance Note 2025, and it is worth reading before you set a budget. The factors that move the number:
The construction guidance also covers the technical basics: a 20 m x 10 m court, 12 mm toughened glass outdoors and 10 mm indoors. The LTA asks for three tendered quotes with a main contractor, and its construction guidance explains which contractors it recommends.
Converting an underused tennis court is often the quickest route for a club. MejorSet's foundation guidelines cover it: the existing surface stays, and a perimeter ring beam secures the court. New outdoor courts go on a reinforced concrete slab with a ring beam and a slight slope for drainage.
A detailed quotation from a padel court supplier is one of the documents your application depends on. Request a MejorSet quotation with the model, specification and site details your budget needs.
MejorSet has been building padel courts since 2003. It has been the official court of the FIP since 2020 and of Premier Padel since 2024, with courts in more than 75 countries. In the UK, Padel Master in Doncaster is the only club with both the FIP official court and the Premier Padel official court.
MejorSet is a padel court manufacturer and installation partner, not a funding adviser. What it can help with:
You can see completed work for sports clubs, hotels and resorts and residential developments.
The LTA advises getting planning approval before finalising funding, and written permission from your funder before any work starts. Prepare:
Our guide to padel court planning permission in the UK goes through each step.
The LTA has a page on Sport England funding opportunities. The Sport England Movement Fund offers grants from £300 to £15,000 to not-for-profit organisations in England for spaces, equipment and activity. It is not a padel court fund, so check whether your project is eligible before you count on it.
Some clubs raise part of the cost through crowdfunding with match funding, which also shows funders that the local community backs the project.
Not for the Facility Loan Scheme if they are companies limited by shares. They can still use LTA Venue Registration, planning letters of support and Delivery Manager advice, and fund the build privately.
Venues funded through the loan must register with the LTA on completion. Registration includes public liability insurance.
Not anymore. The current rate is 5% fixed, with a discretionary 50% reduction for venues in deprived areas.
MejorSet does not manage funding applications. It provides the court specification and a detailed quotation for your application, and can connect you with finance partners.
Yes. Magnelis® steel with a QUALICOAT® certified coating, 12 mm toughened glass on standard models and monofilament turf that drains well are built for wet and exposed sites. More answers in the FAQs.
Speak to MejorSet about court models, specifications and a quotation for your funding application. Contact us.
%402x.svg){kind=icon}