Nestled in the corner of Mount Pleasant Park, a vibrant new community space is taking shape. The Highfield Adventure Playground and Community Building is set to become a hub of activity, support and opportunity for local families and young people in the area, thanks to the tireless efforts of Sharrow Community Forum and their partners. With just a few months left until the grand opening, unLTD discovered how this ambitious project, guided by the expertise of local construction consultancy Austin Fletcher, is transforming not just a building and play space but also the aspirations of the community around it.
For over 40 years, the playground in Highfield has been a cornerstone of childhood in the area, a place where generations have come to play, explore and grow. The responsibility for the site was taken on by Sharrow Community Forum a decade ago, initially managing the daily operations and keeping it free to access. As time passed, the need for an improved offering became evident, so they secured a 25-year lease on the space from the council three years ago. This long-term commitment opened the door to vital capital funding, and eventually led to securing investment from the Youth Investment Fund to develop the new centre.
The playground has been here for decades,” says Jonathan Roberts, CEO of Sharrow Community Forum. “People who played here as kids will bring their children along – sometimes even their grandchildren. It’s a generational thing. That’s what makes this project so special.”
“We started off just looking after the playground,” explains Rachel Cosens, Deputy Chief Exec at Sharrow Community Forum. “But we soon realised that if we wanted to secure its future, we needed a better space that could support the children, young people and families who rely on it.”
A project of this scale requires expertise, and that’s where Wayne Fletcher, Director of Austin Fletcher, and his team have played a crucial role. Specialising in delivering community, commercial and educational developments, they ensured the project met funding and procurement requirements while remaining financially viable. Their involvement has been a significant one throughout, beginning with costing the initial designs and evolving into full project management and contract administration.
“Projects like this are different,” Wayne explains. “It’s not just about delivering a building on time and within budget – it’s about working together, being flexible and understanding what the space truly means to the community.
Austin Fletcher also brought in Jarvale Construction, a family-run firm based nearby, ensuring that as much of the investment as possible remained within the local economy.
“Having a local contractor was really important to us,” says Jonathan. “We wanted this to be built by the community, for the community.”
The relationship between Sharrow Community Forum and Austin Fletcher has been more than just professional; it’s been genuinely collaborative.
“Wayne has been like a shepherd guiding us through this process,” Jonathan adds. “Communication is key to these relationships, and having people like him on board has just helped to smooth the whole process for us.”
Designed with aspiration and community in mind, the new three-storey building is more than just a replacement for the old structure, which had become unfit for use and an uninspiring space. The vision was to create a multi-functional space where young people and their families could access education, employment support, health services and offerings from local organisations – all in a setting that felt welcoming and familiar.
“It’s not just about having a nice building,” says Jonathan. “It’s about creating a space that genuinely makes people feel inspired, that gives them pride in their community and a sense of belonging. The playground itself is incredible for the kids – we’ve got slides and ziplines and all sorts going in.”
“It’s good, old fashioned community development, creating an inspiring space that promotes public health through fun, play and physical activity. There will also be access to really important support networks sitting quietly alongside that, in a place where people can access that support discreetly and somewhere they feel familiar with.”
Once finished, the new centre will house:
Dedicated office spaces for organisations that work with children and families.
Lettable rooms for activities like dance, yoga, meetings, and support groups.
Confidential consultation rooms for organisations to deliver discreet services.
A kiosk-style café, designed to be a training space for young people to develop barista and catering skills.
“We want this to be a beacon,” Rachel adds. “A place where people know they can come, whether they’re looking for fun, support or just want to be part of something.”
One of the most inspiring aspects of the project has been the deep involvement of local young people. Through design workshops, they’ve helped shape elements of the building’s interior, ensuring that their voices are embedded in its very fabric.
“Some of these kids have never been asked what they want in their community before,” Rachel points out. “So to see their ideas coming to life in a building that they’ll use for years to come – that’s incredibly powerful.”
A standout feature will be an art installation called “Coracles of Sharrow”, created in collaboration with local artist Chris Jarratt. Inspired by the community’s diverse backgrounds, the young people built coracles (small boats) as a symbol of unity. These boats will be displayed throughout the building, reinforcing themes of journey, belonging and shared heritage.
“We took the kids out to Pennine Sailing Club to sail the coracles, and some of them had never been out to these Peak District spaces before,” recalls Jonathan. “By the end, they were asking when they could go back. That’s what this project is about – creating space for new experiences, new opportunities.”
As the final few months of construction unfold, excitement is building. Doors and windows are in, walls are being skimmed and the vision is becoming a reality. The official handover is expected in May 2025, followed by a grand opening event that will put the new centre at the heart of the community.
“People are already stopping us in the park to tell us how excited they are,” says Rachel. “And they’ve not even been inside or seen the spaces yet!”
The long-term impact of the project is clear. Young people who helped design the space are now part of a shadow leadership programme, preparing them to take on roles in community development. The centre’s sustainable business model will ensure funding continues to flow back into improving the playground and park. And with a café providing training for young people, it will serve as a stepping stone to employment opportunities – and that’s just skimming the surface in terms of the wider impact this development will have on the community.
For Wayne, the project has been more than just another job. “Understanding why the building is needed, how it will operate and serve the community, and working with Jonathan, Rachel and the team at SCF has been a very enjoyable experience,” he says. “It’s been a challenging journey at times, but one we’ve all been personally invested in. And that’s what makes it so rewarding.”
Highfield Adventures is set to open in Spring 2025. For more info on construction projects by Austin Fletcher, head to austinfletcher.co.uk.
