Future of Crystal Palace Park

[Cllr John Getgood]

Johnson does a runner: The talk at Bromley Civic Centre yesterday was that today (Tuesday) is the final date for the LDA to confirm that they are taking up the lease on the park. (They have already taken the lease on the sports centre and stadium.) The implication was that now the Mayor has installed his own Chairman and Director at the LDA, they will not be taking on responsibility for the park. That doesn't affect the hearing very much as Bromley will continue to prepare to defend their own planning decision. Money is being put aside to employ the barrister etc. There is understandable bitterness at Johnson's actions, especially as Bromley Tories devoted so much time and effort to get him elected.
Bromley do seem committed to getting the Master Plan through.

However, there must be debates to come about how the project will be paid for. I doubt if the sale of the land for housing will raise enough on its own to pay for the improvements stipulated in the legal agreement. Johnson and the LDA seem to think that the financing could come from a consortium of adjoining boroughs. Perhaps. Bromley on their own are unlikely to raise the cash but whether they have enough friends in neighbouring boroughs to share the burden is still to be tested.

Ironically, despite scepticism from Johnson's friends such as Andrew Gilligan, Johnson has recently reaffirmed his support for the plan. In this answer to a GLA question though he gives the first indication that it will be the boroughs, not him, that shoulders the burden:

Crystal Palace Park

Question No: 716 / 2009

Steve O’Connell

What is your position on the LDA proposal to build approx. 180 residential units on Crystal Palace Park to fund improvements to that space?

Answer from the Mayor:

I believe that the loss of acres of land at the fringe of Crystal Palace Park, which has never been part of formal park, and has been previously built on, is a worthwhile sacrifice to help fund the implementation of the master plan, which provides a coherent opportunity to re-generate this iconic London landscape. This is a view shared by the London Borough of Bromley, which granted approval in December. As you will be aware the Secretary of State has taken the decision to call in the plans.

The plan gives public access to an additional 43 acres of green space, and a net increase of five hundred trees. I have ensured that planning conditions guarantee receipts from housing can only be spent on the Park. I understand the LDA and Bromley are arranging to meet other Boroughs to further discuss the Park’s future management.

I have suggested to our GLA members that the following question should be submitted as a follow up:

“Why has his LDA decided to renege on the previous commitment to take a lease on Crystal Palace park?

Given that the Crystal Palace and Penge area missed out on the Mayor’s £6mn parks bonanza, given that the Mayor has chosen to invest £2mn in Burgess Park, Southwark and remembering that the Mayor has also withdrawn from the commitment to bring a tram line to Crystal Palace, what has the Mayor got against the Crystal Palace area?”

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Cllr John Getgood
Penge & Cator
visit my councillor blog site: www.pengeandcatorcouncillors.co.uk

[Cllr John Getgood]

Previous post possibly a bit over the top - though I was only reflecting the comments from the Leader of the council and others at Monday night's Executive meeting, with members of the public in the gallery. The planning application still stands, as I said, but there has been a change in the approach from the LDA.

I now have the LDA's words: "It is correct that we have now informed Bromley that we do not intend to take up the "Option" that expires tomorrow. At a time when planning permission has effectively been withdrawn we have concluded that ownership isn't necessary for the planned regeneration. The LDA are certainly not walking-away from this project, indeed we have already had a very positive meeting with the surrounding boroughs and another of these is planned shortly. We have already spent £30m in and around the park, particular on the National Sports Centre, so our commitment to Crystal Palace Park remains strong."

It is reassuring to know that the LDA will still be fighting the planning application. The cost of the items specified in the legal agreement should come to around £12mn and hopefully covered by income from the housing development. It was quite clear at the meeting last night though that recent developments in the relationship with the LDA had taken Bromley by surprise and caused concern. Let's hope it can all be smoothed over.