Everything you need to know about a new tennis court

En Tout Cas are members of SAPCA, the UK's sports and play contractors' association. We have been building tennis courts for more than 100 years. Some aspects of the game have been remain unchanged while others have altered dramatically. Tennis has never been more popular and the appeal of a court in your own home is enduring. There are four eternal questions that our customers ask us:

  • How much space do I need for a tennis court
  • Do I need planning permission
  • What's involved in tennis court construction?
  • Which tennis court surface do I need?

Here is a guide to all four of these key issues.

A Savanna tennis court - synthesis grass - sometimes called fake grass.

How much ground do you need - the size of a tennis court

A Matchplay tennis court from En Tout Cas with patented Obelisk fencing framed by an old brick wallOne of the first questions about tennis court construction, is how much space do you need? Just how big is a tennis court?

The dimensions of a tennis court have not changed since the game was regulated in 1875, even though almost every other aspect of the sport and its players has evolved.

The original dimensions were laid down in feet, but our plans show imperial and metric dimensions. In broad terms, the tennis court enclosed by a fence will occupy a space somewhere between 120 feet by 60 feet and 108 feet by 52 feet. A singles-only court can be accommodated in a space 45 feet wide.

Remember too that the orientation of the court is very important - no one want to be receiving serve facing into a bright sun.

FENCING
Tennis court fencing plays an important part in the presentation and practicality of a tennis court. Our approach is to use our own design,elegant patented fences complement the court and make it an attractive part of the garden.

Click here to see more on fencing.

Dimensions of a tennis court in metres
Dimensions of a tennis court in feet and inches

Planning consent for tennis courts…

Under normal circumstances, the construction of a tennis court does not require planning permission in the gardens behind a private house.

The planning rules for tennis courts come under and are specifically mentioned in the general rules for outbuildings which state that an enclosure below a height of three metres does not require planning consent.

There are just six reasons why you would need [planning permission for a tennis court.

  1. The house is listed.
  2. Permitted development rights have been removed.
  3. The house is in an area of outstanding natural beauty or national park.
  4. Significant civil engineering works are required.
  5. It would be more than 50% of the garden,
  6. It is not in the garden

To find out more about planning issues, visit the planning portal, a government planing advice website.

SIX

KEY REASONS

 

Tennis court construction

Tennis court construction in progress. Copyright En Tout Cas.

From foundations through to fence post finials, our approach is to build a tennis court that will give years of enjoyment, with the proper care.

 

To find out more about the quality of our tennis court construction work, just click on the links below:

You’ll be aware of our commitment to quality, from the moment we visit to discuss your needs and to survey your proposed site. We’ll take care of details, such as making sure that the court will fit the area you have in mind, that it is correctly orientated relative to the sun and that it is located on stable ground. We’ll ensure that tree roots won’t be a problem, and that surface chosen will perform well in the location..

Following these initial decisions, we will recommend the most appropriate surface and submit a specification and estimate for a total design and build contract. There will be no short cuts in material specification, no casual labour and nothing but the very highest standards.

What you will get are UK-sourced materials that are checked and approved by us before they are used. We deploy our own construction teams, each of which is led by a foreman who is a highly experienced specialist in tennis court construction. To reinforce this dedication to quality assurance, our construction manager will make site visits to carry out detailed quality inspection.

As well as tennis court construction we also offer a full resurfacing, cleaning and refurbishment service for tennis courts. We build tennis courts, including synthetic grass surfaces, synthetic clay and porous Macadam throughout the UK.

Choosing the right tennis court surface

A newly-laid Savanna court from en Court Cas with retaining walls and obelisk fencing.

Pick the surface that suits you best

The surface you choose for your court will depend on the type of tennis you want to play and the other games and sports you will want to play on it.

Different surfaces produce different ball speeds, different levels of bounce and are easier or harder on your joints.

Different types of surface also require different cleaning and maintenance regimes.

You can learn more about the surfaces we offer by clicking here.

Will a tennis court add value to my home?

Pick the surface that suits you best

We take a great deal of care through the design and construction processes to minimise the impact of our work and maximise the aesthetic impact of our courts and soft landscaping. As the article here in specialist property website says, property experts believe that the benefits to the value of your home will exceed the cost of court construction.

If you are thinking of investing in a tennis court for your home, please talk to us.