Last updated October 2026
A whole life carbon assessment counts the carbon in a padel scheme’s materials and construction, plus its energy use, over a 60-year life. In London it is required for schemes referable to the Mayor, and councils and funders elsewhere increasingly ask for it. SustainPlan, the sustainability consultancy in our team, runs the assessment to the GLA method and justifies the benchmark, because the GLA has no padel or sports category. At Old Blues RFC in Merton, upfront carbon came in at about 494 kgCO2e/m², below the GLA aspirational benchmark.
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| Measure | Old Blues | GLA aspirational benchmark | RIBA 2030 built target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront carbon | about 494 kgCO2e/m² | under 500 | met |
| Life cycle carbon | about 645 kgCO2e/m² | under 675 | met |
| Area assessed | 1,924 m² (1,728 m² courts plus 196 m² clubhouse) | ||
| Study period | 60 years |
When does a padel scheme need a whole life carbon assessment?
In London, when the scheme is referable to the Mayor, the GLA’s whole life carbon assessment applies. Your borough’s local plan may also ask for it on smaller schemes, and outside London a council, funder or operator may ask for embodied carbon figures. Your planning consultant confirms which applies at pre-application.
Which benchmark do you use when there is no padel category?
The closest one, justified in writing. The GLA publishes benchmarks by building type, with no category for padel or sports halls, so the assessor has to choose the nearest fit and explain why in the report. A clear justification is what stops an officer questioning every number after it.
On Old Blues the results sat below the GLA aspirational figures of under 500 kgCO2e/m² upfront and under 675 kgCO2e/m² across the life cycle.
What area do you assess on a padel scheme?
The whole scheme, courts and clubhouse, using areas the architect has confirmed. This is different from the Part L energy model, which covers only the heated clubhouse, and the difference has to be stated plainly in both reports.
At Old Blues the whole life carbon assessment used 1,924 m², made up of 1,728 m² of courts and 196 m² of clubhouse. The energy model used the 217 m² conditioned clubhouse. Both figures were agreed with the architect and explained, which answered the council reviewer’s questions on area.
Where does the carbon in a padel scheme come from?
Mostly the court enclosure frame and the slabs. Steel and concrete are the hotspots, so they are where the savings are. We point the design team at:
- lower-carbon concrete mixes for slabs and foundations
- recycled-content steel for the court frames and roof structure
- products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), so the figures are measured rather than generic
The earlier these choices are made, the more they save. Our padel club architects build them into the drawings.
How does whole life carbon fit with the other reports?
It shares its areas with the drawings and its operational energy with the energy statement. If either changes, the carbon assessment changes too. On Old Blues, the revised whole life carbon assessment was rebuilt on architect-confirmed areas at the same time as the energy statement was re-issued, so the council saw one consistent set. See padel energy statement.
What do you need from me?
- Drawings with confirmed areas for courts and clubhouse
- The structural approach for the court frames, roof and slabs
- Any product choices already made, with EPDs if you have them
- The council’s or GLA’s comments, if any
What’s included
- Whole life carbon assessment to the GLA method over 60 years
- Benchmark selection and written justification
- Hotspot analysis with lower-carbon options for the design team
- Areas agreed with the architect and matched to the energy statement
- Revisions in response to the council’s review
What’s not included
- Structural design
- Post-completion carbon reporting, quoted separately where a condition asks for it
Worked example: Old Blues RFC, Merton
Six covered padel courts and a clubhouse in the London Borough of Merton. Assessed over 60 years on 1,924 m², upfront carbon came to about 494 kgCO2e/m² and life cycle carbon to about 645 kgCO2e/m², below the GLA aspirational benchmarks and meeting the RIBA 2030 built target. See the Old Blues RFC padel case study for the whole project.
Who does the work
Padel Court Build is a SustainPlan Ltd service. SustainPlan’s whole life carbon assessors run the study, with the structure and areas confirmed by the architects in our team.
Often needed alongside
- Padel circular economy: the waste and materials side of the same London policies
- Padel BREEAM assessment: where the local plan names a rating
- Wider portfolio: whole life carbon rated A at Rhigian Residence
FAQs
Is whole life carbon the same as the energy statement?
No. The energy statement covers the energy the clubhouse uses. Whole life carbon adds the materials, construction, maintenance and end of life, over 60 years.
Do outdoor courts with no clubhouse need one?
Rarely, but a council or funder can ask. Your planning consultant confirms it at pre-app.
Can you reduce the figures after the assessment?
Yes, if the specification can still change. Swapping concrete mixes or steel sources is the usual route.
Sources
- SustainPlan, Whole Life Carbon Assessment Rev 01 for Old Blues RFC (GLA method, 60-year period)
- London Plan 2021, Policy SI 2 (whole life-cycle carbon assessment for applications referable to the Mayor)