New playground for Mountain House

Following consultation with the TRAs and representatives from the Vauxhall Gardens and Black Prince Estates in October and November 2013, the final proposals for the play area between Mountain and Sullivan Houses are shown on the drawing above.

The proposals reflect all the amendments requested by residents during this consultation and focus the works on the refurbishment of the play area site. The new play equipment and layout of the play area is fully inclusive and sustainable.

The new play equipment has been delivered to the contractor and works will be programmed to start on site in February and complete before the end of March 2014.

The contractor will create a compound area on the site but will need vehicular access to the compound from Vauxhall Street via the Sullivan House entrance.

If you require further information, please contact the North Area Housing Office  northarea@lambethliving.org.uk or telephone 020 7926 6000.

Lambeth Walk Doorstep Green Play Area

Lambeth Council has appointed a contractor for the new children's play area at Lambeth Walk Doorstep Green.

Work will start on Monday 22 April, and is due to finish by 24 May.

Details of the opening event for the community will be announced shortly.

Glasshouse Walk playground work well underway

Work is well underway on VGERTA's transformation of the playground at Glasshouse Walk, on the edge of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

The Vauxhall Gardens Residents Association were fed up with the state of the playground, so organised themselves to draw up plans and bid for money. They successfully bid for over £100,000, and now the work has started.

The new playground should be ready to use by June!

New play area for Lambeth Walk Doorstep Green

 Last year the Council carried out a consultation on creating new play areas at Lambeth Walk Doorstep Green (between Fitzalan Street and Lollard Street).

Originally three play areas were proposed, but budget constraints mean that the Council is now proposing to go ahead with only one of the play areas for the time being. It will be aimed for under 6 year olds, and located in what is currently a dark corner of the park, behind the Adventure Playground building and up against the Adventure Playground's ball court. The Veolia Environmental Trust will contribute £17000 towards the project. Construction is likely to begin in April and be completed by June.

Results of the consultation


Support for the play areas was nearly unanimous. News of the upcoming play area construction was welcomed by 76 responses, with 2 firm objections noted. The objections were due to:

• Keeping the open space in a ‘quiet’, green condition.
• Not agreeing with the separation of the older and younger children’s play areas.

Comments included:

• Opening the sports pitch to unrestricted use to widen the opportunity for play.
• The play area needs to be robust to minimise vandalism.
• Clear out shrubbery around the proposed 2-6 play area for better safety and security.
• Seating with back rests or picnic tables needs to be provided.
• Dog proof fencing is important.
• Swings, slides and climbing equipment were favoured most.
• The idea of a landscaped play area was well received with the inclusion of traditional equipment.

Glasshouse Walk playground plans submitted

VGERTA and Lambeth Living have submitted a planning application for the playground at Glasshouse Walk. The plans will transform the dilapidated playground into a green and welcoming new facility. The plans have been drawn up after extensive consultation with the local community, and the funding has been secured thanks to VGERTA's hard work.

Support or comment on the planning application here.

Watch a video on the case for change at the playground.

New playground and ballcourt for Cotton Gardens?

Lambeth Living have submitted their planning application for a new playground and refurbished ballcourt at Hurley House behind the Cotton Gardens Estate. (Located on the corner of Wincott Street & Kempsford Road)

The planning application is for, "Improvement works of existing ball games by installation of new rigid weldmesh ballcourt fencing, new surfacing and goals. Installation of a small play area on existing open space with timber/net/play equipment landscaping, to include timber fence, low vertical bar fence, seating and grassmatt safety surface."

To view the plans and to comment on them you will need to go to the Council's planning database. The reference is 11/02866/RG3.

The project has been driven forward thanks to the hard work of the Cotton Gardens Residents' Association.

Glasshouse Walk play area consultation event

VGERTA would like to invite you to the Glasshouse Walk Playground Consultation Event, where we will showcase the three options for the playground regeneration.

These plans were produced after the two community consultation campaigns organised by VGERTA.

We would like to hear your views before we proceed to the funding stage to make this dream come true for our area.

The event is on 30 July, and starts at 12pm and ends at 2pm. There will be music, cakes and refreshments.

Last but not least we would like to thank Lambeth Living and Groundwork for assisting VGERTA to make this consultation event possible through their services including the production of the three options that we will present on the day.

We hope to see you all on the 30th.

Watch VGERTA's case for refurbishing the playground here.

Compromise reached on Cotton Gardens playground proposal

A useful meeting was held on Thursday evening between residents of the Cotton Gardens Estate (pictured) and residents of Vanbrugh Court.

Developers have given money to Lambeth Living to build a children's playground in the area surrounding the Cotton Gardens towers. The initial proposal was to renovate the ball court and build a new children's playgound on the grassy mound closest to Vanbrugh Court.

Some residents of Vanbrugh Court complained that this was too close to their homes.

During the onsite meeting we looked at some other possible locations, and everybody agreed that a site for the playground further into the grassy area, away from Vanbrugh Court, would be preferable. Everybody agreed that renovating the ball court and locking both facilities overnight would be a major improvement.

Lambeth Living officers will now consult with their architect about the feasibility of building the playground on this new site.

Kennington Park playground opened

Hundreds of people were out in Kennington Park on a beautiful spring day to watch Kate Hoey MP formally open the new children's playground and wildlife area.

The opening was the highlight of a fantastic day of Spring activities for families, including music, stalls and much more.