Securing the future of Crystal Palace Park

The extensive regeneration plan for Crystal Palace Park will see many famous features restored across the park, from the Grade-I Listed dinosaurs to the Italian Terraces, which once led visitors up to the original Palace.

Beyond these more distinctive aspects included within the regeneration, the wider plan helps secure the future for the park and the tremendous history contained within.

Significant investment and expertise are required to turn the £52m regeneration plan into a reality. The next major stage of capital restoration works, which alone represent a £17.5m investment, have been enabled through grant funding secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The restoration of the Victorian Subway, a former entrance to the park, from the High Level Station, has similar support, with a successful grant application to the City of London’s Strategic Investment Pot, partners Historic England providing grant funding, alongside contributions from local community group the Friends of the Crystal Palace Subway.

Further funding is needed to support the remainder of Bromley Council’s Regeneration Plan and much work goes into identifying and securing funding opportunities. Investment opportunities have also been created as part of the plan, with two residential development sites next to the park ready for development, with outline planning permission already secured. Developers are being sought to take forward these sites, which recently featured in Opportunity London’s Investment Prospectus, being one of just nine major development projects selected for inclusion from across the Capital, showing the international significance of this opportunity and the wider Regeneration Plan.

The complex and at times unprecedented nature of some of the restoration work being progressed requires effective partnership working to ensure these important sites are protected over the long term. Historic England have been involved with the park’s Regeneration Plan since an early stage, including undertaking specialist surveys on the Subway and Dinosaurs. The Victorian dinosaur models were originally designed as temporary structures, so much care and investigative efforts are needed to secure them for the future. Specialist contractors are being used to carry out the restoration works, with DBR Limited undertaking the Subway restoration and HTA Design appointed to lead a multidisciplinary team for the next major phase of regeneration to include the dinosaur restoration.

Alongside the restoration of the dinosaurs and the surrounding Geological Court, this next phase will see the Italian Terraces restored, and a new information centre and dinosaur-themed play area created, as well as further improvements. Better accessibility and amenities are at the heart of the proposals to ensure all residents and visitors can use and enjoy the park. The lower terminus of the Paxton Axis will be restored to its full width through this phase to better support events and activities.

The management of the park, including future responsibility for restored sites, is now delivered by Crystal Palace Park Trust, an independent community-based charity set up as a key part of creating a sustainable model for the park’s future.

The Trust are now responsible for delivering wide-ranging improvements that benefit the whole community, including delivering events for local residents and visitors that help support long term improvements. Creating a sustainable business model for the park was a key priority for the regeneration plan, which supports the Trust’s management arrangement and the maintenance of the park’s important assets and spaces.