Planning approval for Crystal Palace Park will see many of the historic Victorian park’s original features restored, including the iconic Grade-I listed dinosaurs and Italian Terraces, in a £17.75m transformation.
Plans for the next major phase of Bromley Council’s Crystal Palace Park regeneration programme have been unanimously approved by Bromley’s Development Control Committee. Listed building consent has also been granted for the tidal lakes and dinosaurs, Italian Terraces and the Paxton Bowl, enabling these works to commence on site in 2025.
As part of the wider plan to reinvigorate the Grade-II* listed park, detailed plans for this phase, worth £17.75m, were developed by a team of specialist consultants led by HTA Design.
Extensive consultation and engagement with local residents and groups took place as plans for this phase were progressed. The key elements of this phase will deliver:
- The restoration of the Grade-I listed Geological Court, including the Dinosaur sculptures and an enhanced landscape setting
- A new dinosaur and geologically themed play area
- The restoration of the Grade-II Italian Terraces
- A new information centre and maintenance facility
- A new feature entrance at Penge Gate
- Improved lighting, wayfinding, and accessibility around the Tidal Lakes and Italian Terraces
In addition, the landscape proposals will seek to enhance the park’s incredible green spaces. New meadows, paleo-inspired planting and wildlife friendly shrub is included within the proposals to help create new habitats. Sustainable water management will also see stormwater runoff integrated within the landscape, through sensitively sculpted swales and rain gardens.
The development of proposals for the dinosaur sculptures and their surrounding landscape, as well as the new play area and Information Centre have been made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the ongoing support of Historic England to help guide restoration, particularly for the dinosaur sculptures.
Further funding is being provided from a number of sources to support the wider plan, including the sale of residential developments next to the park at Rockhills and Sydenham Villas, which received outline planning permission in 2021. Additional grant funding opportunities are also being sought on an ongoing basis and are still required to deliver the full regeneration plan.
Crystal Palace Park set to be restored
Lead Consultant and Landscape Architect: HTA Design LLP
Planning Consultant: HTA Design LLP
Energy & Sustainability Consultant: HTA Design LLP
Principal Designer: HTA Design LLP
Wayfinding Consultant: HTA Design LLP
Architect (Heritage): Donald Insall Associates
Architect (New Build): Tate + Co
Project Manager: Leadenhall PM Ltd
Structural Engineer: Alan Baxter
Heritage Consultant: Alan Baxter
Accessibility Consultant: Lord Consulting
Building Control: Stroma
Civil Engineer: Pell Frischmann
Contract Administrator: Ian Sayer Ltd
Fire Consultant: Semper
Ecology Consultant: Pell Frischmann
Lighting Designer: Speirs Major
M&E Engineer: Desco
Transport Consultant: Pell Frischmann