Plans for new shopping centre play equipment swing into action
Plans for a new and improved play area at a County Durham shopping centre have been given the green light.
Earlier this year, a planning application was lodged with Durham County Council for Dalton Park on the outskirts of Murton.
This included removing and replacing the existing play equipment within the centre to provide inclusive facilities for visitors.
According to planning documentssubmitted to the county council, the current play equipment at Dalton Park is more than 17 years old and has become “unfit for purpose.”
Although the size of the play area will remain as existing, new plans aim to provide upgraded high-quality facilities to “allow more inclusive play for children of all ages and abilities.”
This includes multifunctional climbing frames, musical equipment and a roundabout, with a wider aim of “enhancing the customers experience” and “promoting social interaction and healthy lifestyles amongst young children.”
In addition, the play area would be enclosed with a lowlevel fence line to “ensure the safety of children [and] natural surveillance.”
A planning statement goes on to say: “The equipment will comprise fun shapes and vivid colours to provide visual stimulus and imagination amongst children.
“There will be sufficient space between each piece of equipment to provide falling zones and to allow children to move around freely.”
Following consultation, Durham County Council planners approved the play park application.
A council decision report adds: “The proposal is located within an area currently used as a play area within the retail area.
“As detailed above the nature of the proposed use is intended to serve the existing customers of Dalton Park.
“It is not considered that the play equipment proposed would have a detrimental impact upon the character of the area given the existing use and would be in keeping with the wider existing structures within the retail park.”
Dalton Park opened in 2003 and was later extended in 2015/16 which involved the development of a cinema, supermarketunit and other food and drink uses.
The main centre comprises more than 70 retail and leisure units.