This set of public realm and activity proposals for New Addington was commissioned by the London Borough of Croydon. The proposals were designed to enhance the high street but also to provide much better spaces for community activities and events. The scheme was three-fold and involved; ‘Remedial Works’, ‘Enabling Works’ and ‘Engaging Works’ to bring forward much needed improvements to Central Parade and to engage the surrounding community with a new public realm. This embedded approach to public engagement in the project was designed to ensure the proposals would respond to both the local context and local community input.
The scheme concept likened the proposals to laying a picnic blanket - a distinctive temporary surface that facilitates activity. We also proposed a series of community engagement events, such as an ‘Olym-Picnic’, to capitalise on the opportunities provided in the new Central Square.
The proposals were successful in gaining £516,000 of funding from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund, and we were invited to present the proposals at the OLF ‘Winners Workshop’ as an example of a high quality submission to the fund. Croydon Council have since procured the works using the secured funding from this bid.