The vacant open, but covered, Market Area failed to provide a commercially viable site for a displaced street market following the last phase development of the adjacent Kingfisher Shopping Centre. The site is a lifeless, people-less place with supportive facilities already in-place, secure boundaries, CCTV , public toilets and several small business kiosks support the proposed site. the Town Centre Partnership has been given an opportunity to establish an Urban Play Barn and integral adult exercise zone for use by visitors, residents and visitors. The site is made up of two structures in a traffic free space with easy access to the Town Centre, Shopping Centre and Town Hall facilities.

What we'll deliver:

• Play Equipment suitable for varied physical abilities to encourage to play together.
• The Perimeter walls will be decorated to create a scenic back-drop to the play areas.
• The Play Zones will have safety floor treatments that showcase elements of the towns industrial past.
• The urban play barn will contain three play-zones , an infant zone, a junior zone and an adult exercise zone.

Why it's a great idea:

Free to use play equipment is a rare facility in the heart of a town centre. Town Centre shopping experiences for children can be challenging and for parents stressful. Commercial businesses operating soft play or 'fun-factory ' style play venues restrict access through the nature of their commercial basis and the cost for parents to fund play, respite or fun. Providing a town centre play barn will provide a unique attribute to Redditch Town Centre, a 'Time-out ' zone for young parents and opportunity for adults to share in the benefits of play with an adjoining free to use exercise zone.

Steps to get it done:

• A scheme has already been designed by a specialist play area provider HAGS SMP
• Local businesses will have an opportunity to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility through sponsorship.
• Local college design students will be invited to take part in a community group painting scheme.
• Children from local schools will be invited to contribute to perimeter decoration design.
• Paent /Community groups will be invited to participate in completing the entry point welcome signage and charter

The Town Centre Partnership (TCP) will seek to promote the facility whilst the existing infrastructure will be retained by a combination of town council environmental services, kingfisher shopping centre security and welfare facilities and Town Champions enlisted via the TCP.