Last updated October 2026
Across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, wetpour under play equipment is priced at about £40 to £140 per m2 before VAT, and a small resin bound path in Cuckfield was quoted at about £154 per m2. Before any of that, Sussex has a question most counties do not: whether your site sits inside the South Downs National Park, which changes who decides on fencing and lights. Send photos and the address and Alex Winser arranges the survey.
Who decides planning for a court inside the South Downs?
The South Downs National Park Authority, which has been the planning authority for the park since 1 April 2011. In practice the host district often handles the paperwork: in Chichester district, for example, the council decides most applications on the Authority’s behalf and only the significant ones go to the Authority itself. A school or club near Midhurst, Petworth or the edge of Lewes should check this first, because a floodlit court in a national park is weighed against the protected landscape as well as against neighbours. Our planning guide for courts and pitches covers the general test.
Is there an agreed need for new pitches in Brighton and Hove?
Yes, and it is written down, which helps any bid. The city’s playing pitch strategy for 2025 to 2041 finds a current shortfall of one full-size floodlit 3G pitch, ideally in the east of the city, with pipeline projects at Saltdean United, Toad’s Hole Valley, Moulsecoomb and Cardinal Newman School. For rugby, it plans a small World Rugby compliant 3G pitch at Moulsecoomb and is exploring a full-size one at Longhill Sports Centre, so a club wanting contact rugby on 3G should say so before the carpet is chosen. It rates about 21% of grass pitches as poor, plans three new non-turf cricket pitches at Aldrington, Braypool and East Brighton Park, and says section 106 and CIL money from new housing should fund off-site sports projects. If your club or school is named, the funding conversation starts with the council.
Our 3G pitch is worn. Is resurfacing fundable in Mid Sussex?
It is on the list. The Football Foundation’s Mid Sussex plan, January 2025, names replacement carpets at The Burgess Hill Academy, East Grinstead Sports Club and Warden Park Secondary Academy, alongside two new full-size 3G pitches still to be sited. A school or club with an ageing carpet elsewhere in the district should get the surface and shockpad surveyed now, so a costed quote is ready when a funding window opens. Our artificial pitches page explains carpet replacement.
| Sussex job | Typical price, ex VAT | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wetpour play area | about £40 to £140 per m2 | Supplier list, 2026 |
| Resin bound footpath, Cuckfield | about £154 per m2 | Parish council quote, 2021 |
| Set of four new tennis courts | £150,000 to £200,000 | LTA |
Which council handles a site outside the National Park?
Brighton and Hove City Council for the city, as a unitary authority; elsewhere, the district or borough within East or West Sussex. A court in Hove and one in Horsham go to different offices, so send the address with your enquiry.
Sources
- Chichester District Council, South Downs National Park planning, read Oct 2026
- Brighton and Hove City Council, playing pitch strategy 2025 to 2041, read Oct 2026
- Football Foundation, Mid Sussex Local Football Facility Plan, Jan 2025
- Redlynch Leisure, wet pour prices, Sept 2026
- Cuckfield Parish Council, Horsefield Green footpath report, May 2021
When should a seafront or holiday site book?
In the off-season. Holiday parks and seafront play areas are busiest in summer, so the survey plans wetpour, markings or court work for autumn to spring dry spells.
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 club court in the Weald be resurfaced rather than rebuilt?
Often. Where the base is sound, a new porous layer and colour coats cost far less than a rebuild; the survey checks first and the quote prices both. See tennis court construction for full builds. A MUGA can usually share a school’s tarmac yard; our MUGA page sets out sizes and fencing for a court that has to fit around play space.
Who runs a Sussex job?
We arrange a vetted local surfacing contractor to carry out Sussex work, confirm who within 2 working days, or tell you plainly if we can’t. Alex Winser stays your single contact from the first call to handover, and the written quote names who does the work before anything is booked.