Transforming Elia Mews and Widford House Open Spaces
The Neighbourhood Project Team has been working closely with St Peter's and Canalside ward Councillors and with Breeze Landscape Architects to improve the Elia Mews estate. This includes the transformation of the children play area, a new Multi-Use Sports Court, and a community garden. Our goal is to create a more cohesive, welcoming, and attractive public space for all residents.
Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback during our engagement campaigns in February, March 2024 and July 2025, which included online and paper surveys, drop-in events, and door knocking.
Following your feedback, we have made a few updates to the design to improve the spaces.
 The Elia Mews children's play area in its current state |  The Elia Mews community gardening space in its current state |
 The Elia Mews Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) in its current state |
Feedback and next steps
Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. The designs for the space have now been finalised and we are in the process of selecting contractors. We aim to begin works in Summer 2026, residents will receive a written notification once a date has been confirmed.
You can download the final design here or via the "Final Design" tab on the right of this page.
The project will be funded using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, allocated by St Peter's and Canalside ward Councillors. The cost of the improvements will not be recharged to residents.
The Community Garden
Residents raised concerns about drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, and how to manage the garden area.
In response, we will reduce the vegetation in the area to make the area more visible from different angles, as well as include a taller secure fence to the perimeter. We will also replace part of the brick wall and replace it with fencing to improve visibility between the community garden and the sports court.
The community garden will have areas for gardening, food growing, and seating & socialising. The on-going development and management of the community garden space will be supported by Green and Growing Solutions, working in partnership with the council. A tool store, compost zone, and noticeboard will be included to help the day-to-day management of the space.
If you would like to join the community garden, please get in touch with the project team.
The Multi-Use Sports Court
From the feedback received there was support for the upgrading of the sports court. The new MUGA will have new resurfacing, new line marking for football, basketball, and other forms of fitness. The existing ball-court fencing will be upgraded. The MUGA’s position will be adjusted to make maintenance easier, help prevent overgrown plants encroaching into the court and to remove hidden spaces where anti-social behaviour has been reported. This change allows for the installation of railings, improving visibility into the garden and across the estate’s green space.
The Children’s Play Area
The play area will be upgraded with modern equipment, including a basket swing and slide, and impact-absorbing surfacing. Following resident feedback, the playground will be enclosed to prevent dog access.
Other changes
In addition to the above, a new pathway has been developed to allow residents to move more freely between different areas, and an additional access to the east of the playground to Elia Mews. We will also add new trees and flowering plants to create a more pleasing environment for all.
