Following the closure of the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s secondary engagement phase for the Coldharbour Adventure Play Centre, local attention now turns to how the council intends to spend the £1.5 million earmarked for the site.

The site-specific consultation – which was decoupled from the borough’s broader “Transforming Youth Play” decisions earlier this year – sought resident and stakeholder feedback on transforming the existing adventure playground into a multi-use ‘community hub’.

While the council maintains that the proposed development will feature a “revamped playground” alongside multi-generational youth services, local campaigners and play advocates remain cautious.

Throughout the wider borough review, London Play and local community groups (Save Greenwich Adventure Play Centres) consistently warned that replacing open-access, playwork-supervised adventure playgrounds with generic indoor facilities or unstaffed parks risks eroding specialist provision for children.

Commenting on the site’s future, Fiona Sutherland, Director of London Play, said:

*”With the consultation window now closed, the crucial test for Greenwich Council is how faithfully these plans reflect the actual needs of local children.

“A £1.5 million capital investment in Coldharbour is welcome in principle, but it must deliver genuine, playwork-led adventure play – not just generic community spaces or basic park equipment. As detailed proposals move toward the planning stage, London Play will continue working alongside local families to hold the council to account and argue that qualified, supervised playwork remains at the very heart of Coldharbour’s future.”

With public feedback now being compiled by council officers and local stakeholder groups, detailed design proposals for Coldharbour are expected to be brought forward in the coming months. London Play will continue monitoring progress closely.