Tower Hill playground revamp plans put to Tower Hamlets Council
The City of London Corporation plans to redesign Tower Hill playground as a fort to honour the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Plans to revamp a playground by the Tower of London in the style of a fort have been approved.
The design for the Tower Hill playground, which was agreed upon following a public consultation last year, is intended to reflect the battlements of the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The designs are now to be submitted to Tower Hamlets Council, with the hope approval may be granted and work begin by the end of this summer.
Caroline Haines, a Common Councillor at the City of London Corporation and Chair of its Natural Environment Board, said the design will ‘enhance the visitor experience and create a welcoming space for all’.
The Tower Hill playground, which looks onto the Tower of London but is not part of the historic complex, is more than 12 years old. Due to its age, maintenance costs have increased and much of the equipment either needs replacing or requires substantial repairs.
The City of London Corporation, which maintains the playground, last year ran a public consultation on three proposed designs; dragon, which took inspiration from the City’s boundary markers, cityscape, which looked to some of the Square Mile’s most iconic buildings, and fort, based on the Tower of London.
A total of 612 responses were received with the fort design the most popular, receiving 47 per cent of votes.
The consultation also found there was a strong preference for including a fence around the playground and equipment such as an obstacle course and a slide.
A Corporation report on the final design states the scheme focuses on inclusivity, safety, biodiversity and reducing maintenance costs.
More planting is included in the plans, as are several accessible elements, such as a roundabout suitable for wheelchairs and benches with wheelchair spaces.
At a Natural Environment Board meeting this month, a Corporation officer explained that the City boundary runs through the playground with the proposed fort sitting in Tower Hamlets. This is why, he continued, it is necessary to file an application with Tower Hamlets Council to progress.
He added that while a full costing of the scheme has yet to be finalised, he is ‘confident’ it can be delivered within a £250,000 budget envelope to be paid via Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 funds.
The fort design was unanimously approved by members.
Cllr Haines told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) following the meeting: ‘Our City parks and open spaces may be small, but they provide a vital retreat for families and tourists seeking a break from sightseeing.
‘Investing in high-quality public spaces is essential to our vision of making the Square Mile a world-class destination for visitors and workers alike.
‘Tower Hill Gardens, set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, offers an important play space for children in the heart of the City.
‘Its new design, inspired by the area’s rich heritage, will enhance the visitor experience and create a welcoming space for all.’
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