The Level's playground shuts for about 10 weeks from 7 September, October half term included. A £300,000 inclusive adventure playground replaces the 2012 kit.

The fenced play area at The Level closes in the week beginning 7 September and is expected to stay shut for around 10 weeks while a £300,000 replacement is built. Brighton & Hove City Council confirmed the timing on 25 August. The rest of the park, including the skate park, stays open throughout.

Ten weeks from that start puts the reopening in the second half of November, and the council attaches the usual condition: subject to weather.

That matters for one week in particular. Brighton & Hove’s school half term runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, which falls inside the closure on the council’s own timings.

Closure window for The Level play area, from 7 September to around mid-November, with October half term inside it

What is being built

The council describes it as a completely new adventure playground for all ages and abilities. The published list of equipment includes:

  • a toddler area with climbing, sliding, spinning and rocking items, a playhouse and sensory items
  • a tower unit with climbing features, a long tube slide, a Ninja Warrior ramp and horizontal bars for older children
  • a flush roundabout and a multi-play unit with wide steps
  • a wheelchair-transferable pod swing and a bucket seat
  • several sensory play panels
  • new wetpour safety surfacing throughout

Two things go. The current equipment, installed in 2012, is being taken out. So are the sand play areas, which the council says are going on health, safety and maintenance grounds.

The work is being done by Proludic Ltd, appointed after a competitive tender. A drop-in event showing the plans was held at the park on 27 August.

Who is paying

Not council tax. The £300,000 comes from section 106 developer contributions: money that developers pay the council under planning agreements to offset the impact of what they build. It is tied to specific purposes and cannot be spent on day-to-day running costs.

The mechanism matters locally, because it links new housing to new facilities. If you want to see what is currently in the system, our Brighton planning applications page explains how to follow a scheme through the council’s portal.

Councillor Alan Robins, cabinet member for sports, recreation and libraries, said: “The Level play area is one of the best loved and most popular in the city, but its constant use means it’s time for an upgrade.”

Where to take children instead

The council points to three alternatives while the work runs:

  • St Nicholas’ Church playground
  • Tarner Park
  • Queens Park

The Level’s own park page has step-free entrances listed, and the two disabled parking bays on the eastern side of Ditchling Road are the only parking attached to the park itself.

What it means for you

  • The play area is out of use from the week beginning 7 September, not the whole park.
  • Expect it back around mid-November, later if the autumn is wet.
  • October half term, 26 to 30 October, falls inside the closure. Plan around it.
  • The skate park and the rest of the park stay open.

Losing a playground the council itself calls one of the most popular in the city, for most of a term, is a real inconvenience. The published equipment list is the reason to put up with it: a wheelchair-transferable pod swing, a flush roundabout and sensory panels are all in the new design.

For other things to do with children in the city while it is shut, see our guide to things to do in Brighton.