Delays to the completion date of the Russell Park playground works
We’re very sorry to inform the Noel Park community that the works on the regeneration work on the playground in Russell Park that were due to be completed later this week are now facing a potential 4 to 8 week delay.
This delay is due to unexpected concerns raised in regards to the under fives play area, specifically the play house.
We have been working hard over the last month with the council, contractors and individuals involved to find an amicable resolution to this issue that would be agreeable to all parties, including parks, the council, Big Local and residents, giving appropriate attention to residents’ concerns while not compromising either the integrity of the scheme or the overall cost for the project.
The issue has arisen from changes elsewhere in the park that happened after the design of the scheme was approved and so didn’t come up during the consultation period.
With the elevated play tree house being such a significant feature of the overall scheme, and the area where we enshrined in the design the latest concepts of inclusive architecture to encourage play for girls, we have done everything we can to retain the agreed upon height of this particular piece of equipment. Lowering its height, the current prefered option, would mean a redesign of the space and the deletion of the slide from the scheme.
As we work to find a solution with our partners in this project, we have had to stop work on the playground until a decision is reached.
With the possibility that the tree play house will have to either be removed or its height changed, and the proximity to the Christmas period, we are looking at a likely new completion date of January 2025.
We are all extremely disappointed by these developments so close to our planned opening date but rest assured we continue to work to find the best solution we can to resolve this issue and please accept our apologies for the unexpected delay and thank you for your continued support.
