Led Projects joins the SAPCA directory as the UK padel market continues to grow

Led Projects (Led Light Projects, S.L.), the FIP Official Lighting Supplier of the International Padel Federation, is now listed in the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) directory, the leading UK association for the sports facility industry, under the category Approved Manufacturer to the Sports and Play Industry.

The announcement coincides with the Premier Padel London P1, held at Olympia London from 4 to 9 August. Led Projects is providing the lighting for all six courts built by Mejorset for the tournament, including the centre court.

The project brings the company’s experience in international competitions and sports facilities across multiple countries to the first top-tier professional padel tournament staged in the UK.

A specialist manufacturer within the SAPCA directory

Founded in 1997, SAPCA brings together companies that develop products and services for the construction, maintenance and equipping of sports facilities.

To be included in its directory, companies must undergo an assessment covering their financial standing, professional track record and adherence to the association’s code of conduct.

Led Projects is listed under the category Approved Manufacturer to the Sports and Play Industry as a manufacturer specialising in sports lighting for padel.

This specialisation is based on the development of asymmetric optics designed specifically for the geometry of a padel court, rather than the use of floodlights originally developed for general sports applications.

The aim is to direct the lighting towards the playing surface, improve uniformity and reduce both glare and illumination falling outside the court.

The company develops its padel installations in accordance with UNE-EN 12193 and UNE 147201, using solutions that may incorporate dimming, anti-flicker technology and configurations tailored to the level of competition or the day-to-day requirements of each club.

Lighting as a key factor in the growth of British padel

According to the figures included in the project announcement, the UK ended 2025 with 1,553 courts across 559 venues, compared with 870 courts one year earlier.

This expansion is accompanied by a high proportion of covered and indoor courts, a particularly relevant feature in a market shaped by limited daylight hours and weather conditions.

For clubs, a correctly designed installation can extend court operating hours while maintaining suitable visual conditions for training, competition and evening play.

Performance on court is not, however, the only factor that must be considered. In the UK, planning permission for new facilities may be affected by the impact of lighting on nearby homes, roads and surrounding areas.

Controlling light spill from the design stage

Light pollution is one of the main technical challenges facing new sports facilities in the UK.

Local authorities may impose limits on the amount of illumination reaching neighbouring properties and restrict operating hours during certain periods of the night. For this reason, beam control must be addressed during the initial lighting study, rather than once the installation has been completed.

The asymmetric optics developed for 20 × 10 metre courts make it possible to concentrate the lighting on the playing surface and reduce spill into the surrounding area.

As well as improving visual comfort for players, this configuration helps meet the conditions established for each project and reduces the risk of a club’s operating hours being restricted because of intrusive lighting.

“When a local authority makes planning permission conditional on switching the lighting off at ten o’clock, the club has already lost its most profitable time slot. That problem cannot be solved afterwards: it has to be prevented through the optical design,” explains Juan Antonio Pérez, CEO and co-founder of Led Projects.

The company’s working process includes an initial assessment of the facility, bespoke design, verification of lighting levels and checks on uniformity and glare once the project has been completed.

From professional broadcasting to the needs of each club

The lighting at the Premier Padel London P1 must meet the requirements of both professional competition and television broadcasting.

Installations of this kind require higher illuminance and uniformity levels, vertical illuminance for cameras, accurate colour rendering and flicker control for slow-motion recording.

Led Projects offers specific solutions for different levels of use, ranging from training and recreational facilities to courts prepared for professional competition and television broadcasting.

Its catalogue includes systems with padel-specific optics, anti-flicker drivers and dimming and control options tailored to the requirements of each installation.

“We compete in the most demanding environments because they push us to improve. The club is the one that ultimately benefits,” says Abraham Melero, Technical Director and co-founder of the company.

The experience gained in top-level competitions is subsequently applied to projects for clubs, sports centres and operators requiring a solution that is reliable, durable and suited to their activity.

Technical and commercial support in the UK

In the British market, Led Projects works alongside Target Sports, its UK distributor.

Target Sports provides local commercial and technical support to clubs, contractors and operators, while product design, optical development and the manufacture of the lighting solutions remain the responsibility of Led Projects.

Joining SAPCA strengthens the manufacturer’s presence in a growing market and gives sports developers an additional criterion to consider before making an investment: working with a verified company whose technology has been developed specifically for padel courts.