Asbestos fragments found below the ground during excavation works in Beckenham Place Park will change design plans for the man-made lake.

Beckenham Place Park received £440,000 worth of funding from London mayor Sadiq Khan in May.

The funding was billed towards planting new trees and the restoration of the park’s Georgian lake to create new a wildlife habitat and swimming spot.

According to an asbestos management report submitted on the planning application for the regeneration of the park, the lake will be redesigned to avoid digging up a type of asbestos.

Asbestos, the name for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres, can damage your lungs if you breathe it in.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said works on the lake stopped after asbestos fragments were found.

“Samples were taken to ascertain the type of asbestos and the quantities present. Of the 37 test pits, very small amounts of asbestos were found in nine of them,” they said.

“A strategy is being prepared by specialists to deal with the contamination safely, without putting the health of park visitors or workers at risk, either now or in the future.

“The strategy will be presented to the council’s planning department for approval, on the advice of further experts in the field.”

The contractor doing works on the park will monitor the air daily, according to the asbestos management report.

“During the excavation of soils, a daily reassurance air-monitoring regime will be implemented as part of the brief to oversee the works,” the report read.

“The number of tests and their specific locations (limited to a minimum of four locations) will be decided on a daily basis according to the type of work and its position on the site, in order to monitor fibre levels and ensure they do not rise above recommended levels.

“Thus giving reassurance to site staff and local residents.”

The bulk of the asbestos containing material will be hand-picked and removed from site by a licensed asbestos carrier, according to the report.