Construction start schedule announced for £2.3 million playground redevelopment in Armagh and other areas of Northern Ireland, UK

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On 12 November, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in Northern Ireland, UK, announced the construction timetable for the first phase of its £2.3 million public play facility renewal programme, to be implemented by Garden Escapes Ltd. The overall programme is being advanced through the Council's Capital Play Facilities Development Programme, under which 12 existing playgrounds will be refurbished and 5 new ones built between 2026 and 2028, covering the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area. The first phase of works includes Abercorn Playground in Portadown, Pinebank Playground in Craigavon and Huntley Playground in Banbridge.

The first three projects will be implemented through a phased site mobilisation approach. Abercorn Playground is scheduled to start on 23 November 2026, Pinebank Playground is set for site mobilisation on 4 January 2027, and Huntley Playground is scheduled to start on 24 January 2027. Construction at each site is expected to take 10 to 12 weeks, with the contractor deploying resources in line with the progress of each project. As the three projects are located in different communities, the Council will coordinate site use and construction arrangements with local residents and relevant stakeholders during the works to limit the impact on community activities in the surrounding areas.

The programme is organised centrally by the Council and combines the refurbishment of existing facilities with the construction of new sites. The renovation of the 12 existing playgrounds will constitute the main renewal task, while the 5 new sites will expand the coverage of public play facilities in the borough. On 9 September 2026, the Council formally announced that Garden Escapes Ltd had been selected as the main contractor for the programme, after which site-specific renovation plans and community coordination work were carried out. The construction dates announced in November for the first phase further clarify the implementation sequence of the projects.