Urban-feel trampoline park

Leisure design and build specialist, Createability, worked in conjunction with Saunders Boston Architects on a 40-week project to develop the brand new 1800m2 indoor soft play and trampoline park, directly behind the town’s Waterworld.

Previously a field, Newquay Trampoline and Play Park, managed by GLL under its Better Extreme brand, boasts a main jumping area, joisting pit, two dive towers, trick zones, obstacle courses and Aeroball.

Whilst separate soft play areas for infants aged 1 – 3 years and children aged 3 – 8 years have a glow ball pool, tree house, glow room, slides, climb and balance beams, as well as interactive cardio walls and crawl tubes. A mezzanine floor provides seating for cafe users and spectator viewing, whilst outside there is also seating and external access to the cafe.

Russell Dawkins, Createability’s Construction Manager on the project, says: “Newquay’s beaches are a big draw for families and surfers, but apart from the leisure centre, skate park and zoo there were few facilities specifically aimed at children. This new play centre will give local families other options to keep active throughout the year; come rain or shine.

“GLL wanted the park to have an industrial feel so, in a first for Createability, our interior designer created this using shipping containers. The design gives the facility an urban-feel, with the party rooms, briefing area, toilets and cafe made from 11 cut out containers, bolted together to create a cleverly-designed, spacious activity centre. Not only are they cost effective, but they can be pre-fitted, off site, delivered and simply plugged in to save time. They also help to futureproof the site, as we can easily add more containers to extend the park should the need arise in the future.”

Pre project work required the erection of a full mile of Herras fencing just to secure the site whilst work was underway, as well as excavating 2000 tonnes of soil to accommodate the centre.

Dawkins continues: “The site was on a slope and so we had to create a suspended slab for the park with 2.5m deep, 3m wide structural footings every six metres, which had huge cost and time implications for the project. However, we still managed to complete the programme two weeks ahead of schedule.”

GLL’s not-for-profit business model ploughs all surpluses back into local communities, staff and facilities, strengthening the sports and leisure offer across the UK and helping to get more people, more active, more often.

In 2017, social enterprise, GLL, won a 25-year leisure partnership contract with Cornwall County Council, bringing £23m of investment with an emphasis on sustainability, affordability and accessibility.

As part of a planning condition to reduce the carbon footprint of the park and its visitors, Createability has also developed a designated cycle trail for locals, which extends from a housing estate behind the trampoline park, in a bid to keep cars off the road.

There were also planning constraints around wildlife preservation, including restrictions on lighting in the car park to protect bats and birds. Construction work had to be completed outside of bird nesting season and the grass had to be kept short around the site to discourage birds from nesting in the area. Regular inspections also took place on nearby tree roots during construction, to ensure trees weren’t damaged.

Blair Cottam, Head of Corporate Technical Services, GLL, says: “From both a project and financial perspective we knew this build would be a challenge, but our collective efforts, working alongside Createability, got it over the line. Thanks to Russell and his team’s co-ordination skills and hard work, we are delighted the project was finished ahead of schedule and was open in plenty of time to welcome the summer’s many visitors.”