Members of the Lochcarron Regeneration Group met with officers from Highland Council on 12 November 2025 to discuss the potential regeneration of the Lochcarron playpark. The meeting focused on funding availability, design considerations, procurement processes and longer-term maintenance implications.
Attendees
- Ingrid Jamieson – Highland Council
- Doug Miles – Highland Council
- Annette Rabbitts – Lochcarron Regeneration
- Martin Rabbitts – Lochcarron Regeneration
Funding context
Highland Council advised that Scottish Government playpark funding has largely already been allocated, with only limited contingency funding remaining. The 2025/26 financial year is the final year of funding under the current national playpark programme, and there is no capital funding pot currently available through the Council.
It was suggested that community projects should now look primarily towards external funding sources, such as lottery funding, to progress playpark improvements.
Age range and equipment planning
Council officers recommended that playpark design should consider provision across three age ranges, and that a phased or multi-stage funding approach may be appropriate. This would allow essential equipment to be prioritised within an achievable budget, with additional items identified as a longer-term aspiration should further funding become available.
It was also noted that using multi-unit pieces of equipment can reduce overall complexity while still offering a range of play opportunities.
Design, procurement and approvals process
The following process was outlined:
- Based on available funding, obtain three quotations from play equipment manufacturers
- Submit quotations and draft layouts to Highland Council play engineers for review
- Council officers would assess:
- Design suitability
- Safety requirements and fall zones
- Overall site layout
Manufacturers were encouraged to visit the site in person to prepare plans, rather than producing desk-based designs.
It was also confirmed that purchasing equipment through Highland Council avoids VAT costs, although this has implications for ownership and maintenance responsibilities which would need to be considered.
Installation and maintenance considerations
Key points discussed included:
- Equipment suppliers can provide supply-only or full design, supply and installation services
- Costs can increase significantly when using a single supplier for all elements
- Independent post-installation inspection is required if installation is carried out by manufacturers
- Delivery costs typically range between 5–20% of total project costs
- After approximately seven years, maintenance costs are often around 10% of the original purchase price
Keeping equipment relatively simple was recommended to reduce long-term maintenance requirements.
Surfacing options
Three main types of surfacing were discussed:
- Wet-pour rubber surfacing
- Highest safety rating
- Most expensive to install and maintain
- Often accounts for around 50% of total park costs
- Grass-reinforced matting
- Rubber mesh allowing grass growth
- Approximate cost of £22 per square metre
- Rubber matting
- Alternative option depending on layout and budget
Indicative costs
Indicative figures provided were:
- £80,000–£100,000 for a small settlement playpark, including equipment and surfacing
- £150,000–£250,000+ for larger destination parks
Lower overall project costs were noted to be generally more appealing to funders.
Additional low-cost enhancements
Council officers highlighted the potential for non-play equipment features which would not require formal playpark approval, including:
- Picnic benches with integrated chess or board games
- Outdoor table tennis or boules
- Secure outdoor storage for games
It was suggested that some of these elements could be locally made, for example through community groups.
Existing equipment and land ownership
- Existing equipment at both the Battery and Kirkton Gardens dates from the 1990s
- Kirkton Gardens equipment is estimated to have approximately three years of remaining life
- Highland Council confirmed they would remove old equipment at no cost once replacement is in place
Council officers agreed to check and confirm land ownership and responsibility for the various play areas and surrounding spaces, and to provide reference drawings from other similar projects where available.
