Invitation to Tender and Specification for Abbey Park

With a project budget of up to £200,000 (excluding VAT), the Council is seeking an imaginative, inclusive and high-quality design that celebrates Glastonbury’s unique heritage while providing exceptional opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. The tender is open until 2 September 2026, with the new play area expected to open in April 2027.

Rather than specifying a fixed list of equipment, the Council has deliberately challenged designers to think creatively. Companies are being encouraged to develop original concepts that could not be replicated anywhere else, taking inspiration from Glastonbury’s myths, legends and landscape. Arthurian themes, dragons, castles, stone circles and other mythical elements are all welcomed, with the Council particularly keen to see imaginative interpretation rather than off-the-shelf solutions.

The vision extends well beyond installing new play equipment. The successful design should create a genuine destination that attracts both local families and visitors, encourages repeat visits and becomes a landmark recreational space for the town. Alongside adventurous and imaginative play, the Council wants to see spaces for families to gather, natural landscaping, biodiversity enhancements and improved seating, all set within the beautiful surroundings of Abbey Park.
A key priority throughout the project is inclusion. The specification places significant emphasis on ensuring children of all abilities can play together, with accessible routes, wheelchair-accessible equipment, meaningful sensory experiences and designs that consider autism, ADHD and a wide range of play preferences. Tenderers will be required to submit a dedicated Inclusivity Statement explaining how their proposals achieve these ambitions.

Designers are also being encouraged to make the most of natural play. The Council would like to see timber features, logs, boulders, stepping trails, landforms and planting incorporated into the overall experience, rather than simply surrounding traditional play equipment. Existing mature trees will be retained and protected, helping preserve the character of Abbey Park while creating an engaging environment for exploration.

Because Abbey Park sits within the setting of a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the successful contractor will need to work sympathetically within its historic surroundings. Designs should minimise excavation and ground disturbance, with archaeological monitoring taking place during construction where necessary. Existing football and basketball facilities will remain in use, while the current large swing set and see-saw will be retained and relocated elsewhere within Glastonbury.

One particularly exciting aspect of the project is the role the community will play in selecting the winning design. Public consultation results will account for 30% of the overall evaluation score, making residents’ views just as influential as the quality of the design itself. Design quality carries a further 30%, followed by inclusion and accessibility, play value and value for money.

The Council is encouraging experienced playground designers, manufacturers and contractors to submit bold, innovative proposals that combine creativity with durability, sustainability and low maintenance. The successful design will become the flagship project within Glastonbury Town Council’s wider programme to improve play provision across all ten of the town’s play parks, helping ensure local children and families benefit from outstanding places to play for many years to come.

Download the full document here.

Completed tenders should be sent by the deadline in digital format to: [email protected]

NOTE: This email address is not necessarily monitored every day, any expiring links (such as WeTransfer or similar) for your submission should include [email protected] to the email so that this data can be downloaded in time.