Newhaven Fort unveils plans for new adventure playground

We can finally release the first CGI images of the new adventure playground being built by CAP.CO at Newhaven Fort in East Sussex. It's being created as part of its ongoing £7.5 million restoration project.

Built in the 19th Century, Newhaven Fort is the largest work of defense ever built in Sussex and is the last in a series of coastal defenses built on the cliffs overlooking Seaford Bay, which date back to the Iron Age.

The design for the play is packed with a variety of references to the Fort’s rich history and is a celebration of Victorian innovation.

The play elements includes a giant tubular slide attached to a Victorian dirigible and a steam crane-inspired lookout tower, where children can climb and discover a secret entrance. It will also include a variety of accessible play features, including sound play, sensory items, interactive speaking tubes and an accessible trampoline and roundabout.

CAP.CO's Professor of Play’ Jono Burgess who designed the scheme said: "We’ve been working on this project since 2021, making sure the design reflects the history and character of Newhaven Fort.

“Since the Fort was built in the Victorian era, we wanted to celebrate the ingenuity and inventive spirit of the 1800s. Our design includes a sheltered play area called Ardagh’s workshop, named after the Fort’s original architect, Lieutenant John Charles Ardagh.

“Playgrounds have a unique ability to inspire children to push boundaries and gain confidence. Our goal is to design and build an inclusive adventure playground which kids will want to return to again and again to challenge themselves, make new friends and have fun."

With vibrant colors and a historical narrative woven throughout, the team at Newhaven Fort hope the new adventure playground will provide an engaging play space for children of a wide range of ages and abilities and foster a deeper connection to the site’s heritage.

Neil Harrison, head of commercial development at Wave Active, which runs Newhaven Fort, said: “We’re excited for work to begin to transform our playground space and we can’t wait to see the design become a reality, with lots of new areas for children to explore.

“Our new adventure playground will be wheelchair accessible, with lots of accessible play features – we wanted to ensure there is something for everyone."

Newhaven Fort’s milestone restoration project is set to reopen in February 2025.