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An artist's impression of the new gardens

A MASTERPLAN for the future of a park has been unveiled.

The London Development Agency has published its plans for Crystal Palace Park, which has suffered years of decline as a result of a lack of funding.

They include trees planted on the site of the original palace to create small open spaces for events, a tree top walkway and tropical greenhouses The masterplan also includes an Olympic-size swimming pool in a new regional sports centre, which would have a grassed roof to blend into the landscape.

The Grade II* listed National Sports Centre would remain but the main swimming pool would close to create an additional sports arena.

Some buildings and the caravan park would be demolished to increase land accessible to the public by 43 acres.

There is currently about 134 acres of publicly assessible parkland which will increase to 177 acres if the plan goes ahead.

Up to 180 homes could be built on the park's fringes to raise £13.1m of the £67.5m total cost of the site.

The agency plans to start looking for other sources of funding after an outline planning application is submitted to Bromley Council on October 29.

An aerial view of the land to to be used for the planned redesign

If successful, the masterplan would be built gradually in a staged process over the next 15 to 20 years.

Agency chief executive Manny Lewis said: "Having seen these exciting designs drawn up by Latz and Partner, I am confident they are entirely fitting for this historic park, ensuring it has a sustainable, ecological yet exciting future for years to come."

But Sue Nagle, acting chairman of Norwood Chamber of Commerce, who wants an entertainment venue built on the site of the original palace, said: "If the trees are planted on the site of the original palace nothing can be built on the site.

"This would mean the loss of a potential thousand jobs, an entertainment venue and the park's long-term sustainability."

The agency is holding an exhibition of the plans in the Old Ticket Hall, Crystal Palace Station, Crystal Palace Station Road, Crystal Palace, between 7.30am and 9.00pm on weekdays and 10.00am and 6.00pm on weekends, until October 31.

For more details, call 020 7593 9000 or visit crystalpalacepark.org.uk

10:23am Wednesday 24th October 2007

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