King-sized revamp of Sandringham Estate children's adventure play area on the cards
The children's adventure play area at the Sandringham Estate is in line for a king-sized revamp.
Plans have been drawn up to increase the size of the area and offer a higher, more challenging range of play equipment.
The design of all of the new structures draw inspiration from features of the Royal Estate such as the famous St Mary Magdalene Church, the ruins of St Mary the Virgin at Appleton and the summerhouse Queen Alexandra's Nest.
The stand-out feature of the revamped site would be an 8m high tower with multi-level water play.
"Directly inspired by Sandringham’s distinctive Appleton Water Tower, the new play tower proposed here will become a key feature to the new play area design," says design report accompanying a planning application to West Norfolk Council.
"Standing at around 8m tall the multi-level play tower will sit proudly at the back of the play site, visible from outside the play space, enticing visitors to explore!
"The two connecting towers themselves house a range of varying play elements, from a winding spiral staircase, to accessible water play tables and giant tube slide the water tower will be a ground-breaking new play feature, fit for the Sandringham Estate."
Some of the equipment would be linked by high level walkways and there's a proposal for new seating areas and a rerouted path as the extended area would cross Princess's Drive. It's expected that a new food and drink unit would be established too, although this doesn't form part of the current application.
Around 500,000 people visit the Royal Estate each year and the proposed revamp is aimed at appealing to a wider age range of children and families.
The report says: "It was discussed that the existing offering, although successful and enjoyed by many, could be improved by adding height to the structures, increasing the adventurous nature of the play elements and also creating themed elements, distinct and unique to Sandringham."
A redesigned area for toddlers would include two covered play houses, a lookout tree deck, wonky ramps and stepping stumps.
