Major works are set to take place restoring the Dinosaurs and the Italian terraces in Crystal Palace park as the first parts of a £17.4 million contract.
Bromley council are inviting a design team to work on two parts of the park – the Lower Paxton Axis and Penge Gate, and Tidal Lakes (dinosaurs) (Site A) and the Italian terraces (site B) with a start date of June 1st 2023 – and an end date of March 31st 2032.
The first phases of the scheme include:
- Restoring the remaining statues and relocating those currently in storage;
- New Dinosaur-themed play area visible from Crystal Palace Park Café and adjacent grass area.
- Introducing a SuDS (sustainable drainage system) scheme to manage water on site and reduce pressure on local flooding
- Removing the existing dilapidated Information Centre and replacing it with a new building which will also be used as a “meeting room for community groups and base for activities in the park”
- New maintenance depot
- Removal of car parking within the park, restoring these areas to parkland and creating areas of car parking at the edge of the park
PROJECT BRIEF
The purpose of the project is to deliver the comprehensive programme of regeneration to Crystal Palace Park, as set out in Outline Application 20/00325/OUT. On a park wide level this comprises:
• Improvements to pedestrian routes, paths and entrances
• Improvements to way-finding and accessibility
• Removal of clutter including redundant signage and fencing
• Removal of car parking within the park, restoring these areas to parkland and creating areas of car parking at the edge of the park
• Introduce a low energy lighting scheme along key routes
• Introduce a SuDS scheme to manage water on site and reduce pressure on local flooding
• Enhance habitat diversity throughout the park and enable ecology corridors
4.1 Site A – Lower Paxton Axis and Penge Gate, and Tidal Lakes Lower Paxton Axis and Penge Gate
• Widen Penge Gate and install a gateway feature to announce the entrance into park within the local neighbourhood;
• Open-up clear views into the park along the Paxton Axis;
• Create central route along the axis that is hard surfaced with steps (and ramps) in complementary material suitable for all users. Width of axis to follow 8 ft. grid of park original layout;
• Form clear views along the axis where possible; and
• Retain and enhance formal ornamental and native trees along the axis in form of tree avenues and specimens to mark key points along the axis; and
• Remove the existing dilapidated Information Centre at edge of Cricket Ground.
Information Centre
• Construct a purpose-built Information Centre to form the hub of information for the park;
• Reduce footprint of the building and return the enclosed yard area back to public park;
• Building to be single storey with kitchen and toilet facilities, to act as meeting room for community groups and base for activities in the park; and
• Design to compliment new cafe and pick up on the architectural motifs used throughout the park, including on the adjacent toilet block. In addition, the design to incorporate features to encourage biodiversity.
Rangers Maintenance Building
• Improve on-site maintenance facilities by replacing existing facilities with new purpose-built maintenance depot;
• Re-use where possible the existing Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) supported maintenance building constructed in 1999. Where possible, measures to be incorporated to improve
sustainability including the potential for a green roof and living walls;
• Create a maintenance service yard around the relocated building of sufficient space for storage and for maintenance activities. Yard to be screened from the park, neighbours and
Sydenham Gate by topography and planting.
Tidal Lakes
• Restore the Grade I listed dinosaurs and their setting, including the Tidal Lakes. Renovation to form part of the Dinosaur Project spearheaded by Historic England. Note: At the time of tender publication, Historic England are producing condition surveys for all of the Dinosaurs, as well as reviewing the pumping system and hydrology that impacts the tidal lakes and undertaking a series ground investigations.
• Create a vehicle entrance and exit gateway into Penge Gate car park which is separate from the pedestrian entrance;
• Renovate Penge Gate car park to maximise usable area and include disabled bays, electrical charging points and secure cycle parking; and
• Create new dinosaur themed play area visible from Crystal Palace Park Café and adjacent grass area.
4.2 Site B – Italian Terraces
• Conserve and repair the terrace walls and replace missing balustrades and copings to redefine the Upper and Lower Italian Terraces;
• Repair North Wing Wall which together with a grass embankment defines northern end of terraces;
• Reform grass and ornamental shrub embankment to define southern end of terraces;
• Install ramps running through grass embankments to facilitate accessible movement from each level of the terraces;
• Create viewing areas on each terrace to maximise expansive views over the Park to the east;
• Restore the remaining statues and relocate those in storage;
Upper Italian Terrace
• Renovate grass embankment between Lower Palace Terrace and Upper Italian Terrace;
• Redefine 24ft wide surfaced path along base of grass embankment; and
• Restore stone steps at northern and southern ends that link to terrace beside North Wing Wall and Crystal Palace Museum courtyard. Restore steps also along former line of northern and southern transept and in centre along Paxton Axis. Install ramp beside central steps.
Lower Italian Terrace
• Refurbish open grass area and improve drainage to facilitate use for occasional events;
• Recreate layout of paths following 8ft. grid system;
• Restore steps along Paxton Axis and along former line of northern and southern transept and install ramps;
• Restore the bust of Paxton (either in-situ or relocated to the lower Italian Terrace); and
• Plant ornamental tree specimens and groups in key locations.
The project brief also includes the following:
10. CONSULTATIONS
As part of the project, we expect the tenderer to consult with a number of groups and individuals, in addition to providing all necessary documentation for a number of consultation events, as required to discharge the reserved matters applications.
Bromley council have issued the following:
Bromley’s executive councillor for renewal and recreation Cllr Yvonne Bear said: “We are continuing to progress with our Regeneration Plan for Crystal Palace Park with this procurement of an expert consultant team being an important step towards delivering the much-anticipated capital works which will help showcase the illustrious history of this great park while delivering new spaces to benefit the local community and economy.
“Once this team is on board, we will be able to move forward with works such as the restoration of the world-famous dinosaurs and their surrounds, creating a new event space on the Lower Italian Terrace, and numerous improvements to the park’s facilities and green spaces, to name but a few.
“It has taken a concerted effort from many over a number of years to get the plan to this stage and while works cannot be completed overnight, we are now in a confident position as we strive, in partnership with Crystal Palace Park Trust, to deliver a reinvigorated park in supporting Paxton’s original vision.”
The council are seeking an experienced multi-disciplinary design team to progress the next stages of the Regeneration Plan for the Crystal Palace Park now that outline planning consent has been achieved.
Further reading:
- Design team sought to upgrade Crystal Palace Park
- Opportunity Multi-Disciplinary Design Team for the Provision of the Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan
Notice reference: 2023/S 000-004375
Published 13 February 2023, 2:58pm
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004375-2023?origin=Search Results&p=1
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE 