PLAYLINK / Free Play Network

Teenage Hangout Shelters

I am aware that a lot of councils are installing Teenage shelters into designed places for play.

In Tower Hamlets when we where designing a scheme in a local park young women particularly rejected the idea of teenage shelters and wanted quality seating not shelters.

They wanted stainless steel seating that you would find in many newly designed public squares found particularly in new regeneration schemes.

What thoughts do others have on the merits or not of specified teenage Hangout seating areas?
Posted by: Phil Doyle, Play Development Manager , LB Tower Hamlets, -1 June 2020, 1-:29

While working for a local council providing failities I found that they can work very well, however the location is vital - just "plonking" one on an open space and expecting it to be used will almost certainly result in no use and/or vandalism of the shelter.

Dialogue with the intended users and local residents regarding the location is in my opinion vital.

The other thing I have taken from this is that generally they work best when used in concert with some other provision appropriate to the target group. Sometimes this can be a dedicated facility other times it could be providing a shelter within a site and in these instances it can provide for other groups.

Like all provision they are appropriate in some cases but not a complete solution in isolation
Posted by: Toby Knight, Playground Designer, Playground Services, -1 June 2020, 1-:29

I was critisied by a qualified play inspector for locating a shelter within a play area,(apparently they do not conform to BS EN 1176) a play area specifically designed for teenagers who use it during their lunch hour, a high school being afew hundred metres away.

If you are designing a space to attract teenagers and only teenagers then maybe they should be located away from mixed age play sites. But when is a shelter a teenager shelter and not just a shelter for everyone ? How do our non teenager shelters conform to BS EN1177 does it matter!

On larger sites we have provided more than one shelter so that different groups can take shelter without intimidation.

A shelter needs to provide proper shelter and not just a frame with a roof, be located to protect against the prevailing wind.

Kid want to have shelters were they want to hang out, you will fail to move kids to new areas just by putting a shelter there...dialogue with them is always helpful.


Posted by: Phil Nicholson, Snr landscape Architect, Bedford Borough Council, -1 June 2020, 1-:28

I am a big supporter of youth shelters but i often hear the complaints from local residents who have to live close to them.

Location is vey importent.

I also suggest people read the following document from Thames Valley police http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reduction/designoutcrime/pdf/ys2.pdf
Posted by: Paddy Mulligan, Outreach Play Development Officer, Wirral Play Council, -1 June 2020, 1-:28