Last updated October 2026
Buckinghamshire schools, parishes and clubs deal with one council for most of the county, which makes multi-site programmes simpler to plan. Wetpour for play areas usually runs at about £40 to £140 per m2 before VAT. For courts, the LTA’s resurfacing average is £12,500 to £17,500 a court and a new set of four is £150,000 to £200,000; the LTA gives no VAT basis for either. Send photos or a plan and the team books the survey.
Which council handles planning here?
Buckinghamshire Council, for Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Amersham, Chesham, Marlow and the rest of the county; it has been a single unitary authority since April 2020. Milton Keynes is the exception, with its own city council. A trust with schools either side of that line should send each address so each planning question goes to the right office.
Is there money for a 3G pitch in Buckinghamshire?
The need is well documented, which helps any bid. The county’s Local Football Facility Plan counts a shortfall of 18 full-size 3G pitches, 33 needed against 15.5 in use, split North 5, East 6, South 2 and West 5, and expects demand for 11 more by 2030. Behind it sits a track record: 243 Football Foundation grants in the county worth £7,771,393, including nine new 3G pitches. A school or club in one of the shortfall areas starts its bid from strong evidence; our artificial pitches page covers the build.
Is our school named in that plan?
Check, because it changes how you approach the job. The plan lists Misbourne School and the Chalfont, Amersham and Chesham area in the East; Bourne End Academy, Highcrest Academy and the Marlow and Princes Risborough areas in the West; and Farnham Park for a new pavilion. If your site is on the list, a Football Foundation route is likely to be the first conversation, and we price the surfacing to fit the grant’s specification and timetable rather than a standalone quote.
| Buckinghamshire job | Typical price, ex VAT | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wetpour under a parish play area | about £40 to £140 per m2 | Supplier list, 2026 |
| Resurfacing a Marlow or Amersham club court | £12,500 to £17,500 | LTA average |
| Junior 3G, 61 x 43 m, fenced and lit | £515,000 to £545,000 | Sport England, Q4 2025 |
Our school is in Milton Keynes. Does this page apply?
Yes, but your council is Milton Keynes City Council, not Buckinghamshire Council. Most of Milton Keynes is laid out as low-rise grid squares, while Central Milton Keynes has taller buildings, so the survey checks where materials can be unloaded before the price is fixed.
Does the Green Belt or the Chilterns affect a new court here?
It can. Green Belt covers 32% of Buckinghamshire Council’s area and the Chilterns National Landscape 27%, according to the council’s 2023 to 2024 monitoring report. National policy accepts outdoor sport in the Green Belt where the land stays open, so on those sites planners look hardest at fence height and floodlights. The quote shows both as separate lines, so either can be scaled back if consent requires it. Our planning guide explains the test.
Should our tennis club resurface or rebuild?
Resurface if the base holds. Clubs in Marlow, Beaconsfield and Amersham often find a repaint or a new porous layer is enough; the survey checks cracking, drainage and root damage and the quote prices both routes side by side. Where the base has failed, our tennis court construction page covers a full rebuild.
How it works
- 01Send a plan and photosThe site, the surface and the date it must reopen.
- 02We check the groundLevels and where the water drains.
- 03Written quoteBuilt around your reopening date.
Can a MUGA go on our existing hard court in High Wycombe or Aylesbury?
Often. A sound tarmac yard or old court can carry a multi-sport surface and lines for netball, football and basketball, which avoids digging out. Our MUGA page sets out sizes, fencing and lighting.
Sources
- Football Foundation, Buckinghamshire Local Football Facility Plan, 2024-25 season data
- Buckinghamshire Council, Authority Monitoring Report 2023 to 2024, Sept 2025
- NPPF, protecting Green Belt land (paragraph 154), read Oct 2026
- LTA, how much it costs to build or renovate a tennis court, read Oct 2026
- Sport England, Facility Cost Guidance Q4 2025, published Feb 2026
Can worn wetpour in a Chesham or Aylesbury play area be patched?
Usually, where wear is local to slide exits and swing landings. Patches are cut out and relaid, and the quote shows a repair next to a full overlay so the parish or school can compare.
When should a Buckinghamshire school book?
Early in the spring term for a summer slot. Wetpour, colour coats and markings need dry weather, and a larger job may need governors’ approval and a funding decision first.
Who looks after a Buckinghamshire job?
Alex Winser runs it end to end, from the first survey through the programme to the final check with you. The surfacing teams lay and line the surface, and the specialist teams handle any fencing, lighting or groundwork on the same fixed written price. Every price band we use is on the costs page . We arrange a vetted local surfacing contractor for Buckinghamshire jobs. We confirm who within 2 working days, or tell you if we can’t.