Green light for new children’s play park on Seaburn seafront
Major plans for a new outdoor children’s play park at Sunderland’s seafront have been given the go-ahead by city councillors.
Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee, at a meeting this week, approved a council planning application for land off Dykelands Road, near the former pirate play park site.
The council-led plans, which were developed with input from children from Seaburn Dene Primary School, aim to create a key visitor attraction as part of Seaburn’s wider seafront offer.
Sunderland City
Council’s Labour cabinet agreed to progress the proposals in July, 2023, with a funding agreement between the council and its regeneration company Siglion Developments LLP aiming to combine capital resources to deliver the scheme.
Senior councillors at the time heard Siglion would submit a planning application as well as launch the process to appoint a construction contractor, with the planning application formally submitted in October.
The submission described plans for a new children’s play area with a bridge, walkways, landscaping and several “discrete play areas”, along with the “redevelopment of the existing play area to provide grassed open space”.
Designs included climbing, scrambling and ‘rope play’ building structures, as well as play towers, swings and climbing walls.
In line with the council’s ambition to make the city’s play parks ‘more inclusive’, the plans also included bespoke play equipment for those with accessibility challenges.
It was noted that the play area had been designed “with a view to attracting visitors from across the North East and beyond”.
During the decisionmaking meeting, several local councillors expressed support for the scheme, but also raised concerns.
Councillor Peter Walton asked for assurances around traffic safety and crossings given the “busy” nature of surrounding roads.
Cllr Michael Hartnack called for assurances around the site’s security.
Cllr Gregory Peacock said: “Anything that encourages children and families to exercise and play outdoors is 100 per cent what we want and it just looks amazing”.
Council planners confirmed CCTV was going to be installed as part of the scheme.