There are many myths and misconceptions hanging around about tennis courts and how they are constructed. The truth is that many of them have no basis in fact at all. Here we look at three common tennis courts myths and the truth behind them.
Myth 1: You can only have a hard court installed
It is commonly thought that if you want to have a tennis court installed in your property, your only option is to have a hard court surface. While there is no doubt that hard court is the most popular of the tennis surfaces found in the UK, it is possible to have others installed. High quality synthetic courts such as artificial grass and even artificial clay can be easy constructed.
Myth 2: Tennis courts require constant maintenance
This myth has likely manifested due to the fact that the UK’s most well-known and prestigious tennis tournament, Wimbledon, is played on grass. Grass courts are extremely high maintenance, requiring year-round work. However, standard tennis courts such as hard courts or the synthetic surfaces mentioned above only require a little maintenance to stay in excellent condition.
A well-maintained court will also enjoy a very long lifespan. You may get more than a decade’s worth of play without any noticeable wear and tear.
Myth 3: It’s hard to get planning permission
It is also assumed that if you want a tennis court on your property you are going to have to get planning permission. However, if you are interested having a court built there is some good news: generally, if the land does not require a change of use, there will be no need to get planning permission. Of course this can vary on a case-by-case basis, for example if you live in a conservation area, but for the vast majority of properties, a court can be built without seeking permission.
It should be noted that if you want to have floodlights installed, these may require permission. In any case we recommend seeking advice from your local council.
