The Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan is set to make significant headway as a specialist team led by HTA Design is appointed to deliver the next major restoration works.
The HTA team will deliver this significant stage of the regeneration plan on behalf of the council, which will see widespread improvements across the park in the coming years, including the restoration of some of the most beloved historical sites. The estimated £17.5m works includes the restoration of the Grade I listed Crystal Palace dinosaurs and the landscaping around their island, and the regeneration of the Italian Terraces that will become an amazing space to host community events. The works will also improve the Lower Paxton axis of the park by the Penge entrance, including a new playground for instance.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “It is an exciting time for this iconic park as we begin to bring forward our ground-breaking plan and create a future for the park that is fitting of its remarkable past. I know local residents and visitors will be eager to see progress being made on the headline restoration works including in this next stage, but there is also much more work going on around this to ensure that a long-term model is created for the park, that firmly connects its heritage to the local community and economy.”
News of this appointment follows the National Lottery Heritage Fund recently selecting Crystal Palace Park to be included in their latest round of grant funding, which will lead to funds for the dinosaur restoration and connected works. Additional funding is coming from a number of sources, including the sale of residential developments coming forward next to the park in accordance with the regeneration plan.
Natalia Roussou, Landscape Design Director, HTA Design, said: “We are excited to have been selected by the London Borough of Bromley for such a high-profile project and look forward to working with our team of specialists to bring a new lease of life to Crystal Palace Park. Delivering this stage of the regeneration plan will reinforce the international significance of this iconic London park, celebrating its rich history, restoring connections to nature and creating environmental resilience so that the park can be enjoyed now and in the future.”
HTA is appointed as the lead consultant and landscape architects for this stage of the regeneration plan, leading a team of specialist multidisciplinary consultants to deliver the restoration works and connected park improvements. HTA have significant experience in high-profile public realm and park restoration projects, including the award-winning transformation of Cator Park in Greenwich.
On 15 September, Crystal Palace Park Trust will take over the day-to-day management of the park in another key milestone in the wider £52m regeneration plan, which received outline planning permission in March 2021. Works are already underway as part of the wider plan, with the restoration of the Grade II* listed subway making good progress and to be completed later this year. Further grant funding still needs to be raised for much of the works in the wider plan.
