Crystal Palace Park – Restoring the Heritage of the Iconic Crystal Palace Park for All

by | Jan 17, 2025 | 0 comments

Client: Bromley Council / Crystal Palace Park Trust

Dates: 2022-2027

Budget: £17.75 million (£4.69 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund)

Project: Regeneration and Restoration of Crystal Palace Park

Crystal Palace Park, one of London’s most iconic green spaces, is undergoing a transformative regeneration project bolstered by a £5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This follows the recent success of the Grade II* listed Crystal Palace Subway that opened in 2024.

The Lottery grant supports a wider £17.75 million programme to restore key historical features, including the park’s internationally renowned dinosaurs and Italian terraces, with works set to commence in Spring 2025. The grant will primarily support the restoration of the park’s Geological Court and Paxton’s Grand Centre Walk, with new planting, enhanced biodiversity, and the reinstatement of historic views. Interpretation, new wayfinding and a dinosaur-themed playground, created in collaboration with residents will be delivered along with a two year programme of heritage engagement activities, and opportunities for work experience, internships and volunteering.

Crystal Palace Park Trust, established as the new community-led custodian of the park is overseeing the long-term management of the restored spaces under a new sustainable business model, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the park.

Alix Slater Consultancy was initially engaged in 2022 to assist with the Development Phase application for the ‘Restoring the Heritage ‘ project. After securing their first grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Alix was appointed as the project’s Evaluation Consultant. The project is now being delivered (2025-2027). She is working with the Council and Trust to evaluate the project’s heritage, community and people outcomes, using evaluation to learn and improve during delivery. In early 2027 she will prepare a summary report to evaluate the project outcomes against the original aims.