We were commissioned by St Mary Bourne Parish Council to redesign their existing multi-use games area. We were commissioned by St Mary Bourne Parish Council to redesign their existing multi-use games area. The council aimed to reduce the size of the games area to create space for a new play area, a larger car park, and a dedicated tennis court. Our team was tasked with delivering a bespoke play space that would cater to a wide range of ages, offering both adventurous equipment for older children and inclusive play opportunities for younger users, while complementing the surrounding landscape. Swipe for more The completed play area is a vibrant, engaging, and fully accessible space, designed to encourage imaginative play, physical activity, and social interaction. Key features of the project included: Robinia Timber Play Area: Featuring a large fort for older children, offering climbing, balance, and exploration opportunities. Inclusive Swings: A mix of basket swings, flat swings, and cradle swings to accommodate children of all abilities. Additional Play Equipment: A seesaw, roll-over bars, and a train-themed toddler unit, providing age-appropriate challenges and imaginative play. Integrated Seating and Planters: Bespoke timber planters with integrated seating create natural gathering spaces for children and carers. Perimeter Safety: Play-spec timber picket fencing with self-closing gates ensures the area is safe while remaining visually appealing and welcoming. Multi-Age Appeal: The combination of toddler-specific units and adventurous equipment for older children ensures the space meets the needs of the whole community. The project involved careful planning to balance multiple priorities, including reducing the existing games area, maintaining safe access, and creating distinct zones for play and sports. Design Collaboration: We worked closely with the council to develop a design that offered the best value for their budget, while ensuring that the final layout met the expectations of local residents and reflected community feedback. Space Management: Reducing the multi-use games area required strategic layout design to ensure all new features could be accommodated while providing a larger car park and tennis court. Contractor Delays: During the project, another contractor failed to deliver a portion of their package, risking a six-week delay to the overall scheme. To maintain progress, we took on the delayed works ourselves, leveraging our strong supplier relationships to negotiate reduced lead times — effectively removing any delay from the programme and ensuring the project remained on schedule. Site Integration: The play area was carefully integrated into the surrounding landscape, with pathways, seating, and fencing designed to complement the wider development. The new St Mary Bourne play area offers a diverse, engaging, and safe space for children of all ages, providing both adventurous challenges and opportunities for imaginative play. By combining bespoke timber design, integrated seating, and inclusive play equipment, the project has created a community-focused space that enhances both play and leisure within the parish. This project highlights our expertise in planning, designing, and delivering complex multi-use outdoor spaces, balancing safety, accessibility, visual appeal, and value for the community — and our ability to respond proactively to overcome challenges and deliver projects on time and to the highest standard. New Play Area Design and Installation for St Mary Bourne Parish Council
The Brief
Key features
Renders
Obstacles and Solutions
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