Kids to build their own play structures at new Edinburgh adventure playground
Community group gets go-ahead for park plans
Plans for a new adventure playground in Edinburgh where children will be able to build their own structures have been given the green light by city planners.
The proposals, submitted by local group Wester Hailes Growing Communities (WHGC) in March, will see a grassy site next to Hailesland Grove transformed into a dynamic, pro-ecological play space.
In a unique collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council, WHGC will lease a central "free play area" within the site.
Approving the plans, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The principle of enhancing the greenspace and providing additional play provision and planting is acceptable. The design and layout of the proposals is acceptable and there will be no unreasonable impact to amenity.
“The site will provide a biodiversity and landscape enhancements. Subject to condition, there will be no detrimental impact to the trees. Water management and sustainability are acceptable.
“There are no material considerations that outweigh this conclusion. Therefore, the proposal is acceptable.”
The approved new playpark will be a combination of playful landscaped mounds and three main play zones connected by paths. While, most of the equipment pits will be bark chipping.
The community group’s main aims are to create a dynamic play environment with the widest possible range of play options for all ages and abilities, and a pro-ecological play environment which benefits local children, youth, families, playworkers and nature.
WHGC chief executive Greig Robertson said: “The Greenway Adventure Playground will be fantastic collaboration between Edinburgh Council and local community organisation, Wester Hailes Growing Communities, who will take a lease for the central 'free play area’ in the adventure playground.
“This will deliver activities which would not normally be possible in a council playground, including supporting children to build their own play structures which they can change over time."
The existing site is an open area of utility grass with housing on the north and south edges. To the west side is the Wester Hailes Community Garden. To the east is another larger open area of amentiy grass which is also used for ball play, dog walking and recreation.
The applicant now has three years to begin work on the site, with the application receiving no public comments on the council’s online planning portal.
The playground plans were approved with two further conditions, one of which being that the approved landscaping and planting, including tree planting, shall be fully implemented within six months of the completion of the development.
And, no excavation or other development related works shall commence until all tree protection measures have been fully installed. Once the tree protection measures are installed these shall be maintained and monitored in full until all construction works are complete, and all equipment, machinery and surplus materials have been permanently removed from the site.
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