East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 22 July 2025 | Comments

Work is now underway to redesign several play areas across East Suffolk, providing high-quality play spaces for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Play areas at Beccles, Felixstowe, Framlingham, Kesgrave, Rendlesham, Trimley St Mary and Wrentham were identified for improvements in a review of play areas carried out in 2022. In 2024, residents were invited to give their views on how these play areas could be improved and this feedback was used to develop plans for redesigned play spaces. Earlier this year, the proposed designs were circulated to local communities for their views and the final designs are now being installed. 

• In Beccles, work is now underway at Townlands following a community request to retain this play space. Funded by East Suffolk Council and the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the new play area is aimed at younger children and is currently being installed by Kompan. Completion is expected later this summer.
• In Felixstowe, both the Seaton Road and Walton Rec play areas will be redeveloped, funded by East Suffolk Council, East Suffolk Council’s CIL, the Outdoor Playing Space fund and Felixstowe Town Council. The Walton Rec play area will be relocated to the south of the site, nearer to the existing basketball court, and both areas will be installed by Kompan. Work is due to begin this month, with completion later in the summer.
• In Framlingham, the Kings Avenue play space improvements are now underway, funded by East Suffolk Council, East Suffolk Council’s CIL and Framlingham Town Council. Works are being undertaken by Kompan with completion expected later in the summer.
• At Grange Meadow in Kesgrave, it was agreed that the former play area at Nock’s Garden would be removed due to lack of use and instead, new equipment would be installed at Grange Meadow. Eibee Ltd will be creating the new play area with funding from East Suffolk Council, East Suffolk Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and the Outdoor Playing Space Fund. Works are due to start in September with completion expected by the autumn.
• A new play area is being created on land owned by East Suffolk Council at Pine Close in Rendlesham. Funded by the Council and through the Council’s CIL contributions, the new play space will be aimed at younger children and will be installed by Kompan this month, with completion expected later in the summer. 
• At Faulkener’s Way in Trimley St Mary, work is now being undertaken by Wicksteed to install new equipment funded by East Suffolk Council, the Council’s CIL contributions, Suffolk County Council’s Locality Budget and Trimley St Mary Parish Council. The new play area is due to be completed by the autumn.
• The play space at Bonsey Gardens in Wrentham will be created by Eibee Ltd, funded by East Suffolk Council, East Suffolk Council’s CIL and Wrentham Parish Council. Works are due to start in September with completion expected by the autumn.

Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Culture, Communities, Leisure and Tourism said: “Following a review of play areas across the district and having listened to community feedback, these eight spaces are now being redesigned with high-quality modern play equipment installed for the benefit of local families. We appreciate your patience whilst the improvements are carried out, and we look forward to seeing the redesigned play areas open later this year.

“We are aware that there are some additional play areas in the district which urgently need new equipment, and that the installation of this has taken more time than intended. In some cases, this has reduced the range of play equipment available for families and we apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. We are working to address these issues as quickly as possible, and myself and ward councillors are monitoring the situation in order to reduce any further delays.”

These improvements are part of a five-year programme of improvements to East Suffolk’s play areas and other consultations will take place on other areas in due course.

There are over 280 play areas in East Suffolk and East Suffolk Council owns and maintains over 60 of these. In 2022, the Council commissioned Knight, Kavanagh and Paige Ltd to carry out an independent evaluation on the council-owned play areas, looking at how the spaces were used, the type of equipment present and where improvements could be made.

This evaluation formed the basis of the Council’s Play Strategy 2023 – 2027, an in-depth study of current play provision. The strategy makes a series of recommendations and identified play areas which could be upgraded and redeveloped to provide modern, high-quality play equipment for local families to enjoy.