The London Development Agency's masterplan for Crystal Palace Park, developed in close collaboration with Design for London, is a blueprint for the revival of one of London's most historically important public spaces.

 

The park was originally designed by Joseph Paxton in 1854 as a setting for the 'Crystal Palace' that had housed the Great Exhibition. The vision now is to create a metropolitan park and a cultural, leisure, educational and recreational resource for the 21st century.

 

Latz + Partner and Meadowcroft Griffin led the masterplan together with a wide-ranging consultant team. The masterplan combines the spectacular heritage of the park with a contemporary approach. It uses trees to mark the footprint and scale of the former Crystal Palace, improves and frames the spectacular Italian Terrace with dramatic glasshouses and restores Paxton's Grand Central Walk as a central axis for the park. Overall, the masterplan proposes a connected and accessible park with improved facilities including a new museum, all of which will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area.

 

Design for London managed the design development of the masterplan, working closely with the consultants through a series of design reviews and workshops and negotiations with key stakeholders including the London Borough of Bromley, the Greater London Authority and English Heritage.

 

Although the London Borough of Bromley resolved to grant planning permission for the masterplan and the Mayor of London was happy for them to do so, the Secretary of State has called in the plans for determination.  A public inquiry will be held in July 2009.

 

The LDA has also taken over the National Sports Centre, which sits in 39 acres in the centre of the park. The main sports hall has been refurbished and reopened in April 2009.

 

Partners: London Development Agency, London Borough of Bromley, London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon, English Heritage, Sport England, sporting bodies, local community and sports users’ representatives

 

Visit the Crystal Palace Park website

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