Croydon Council has submitted a planning application to revitalise College Green into a vibrant green space with play areas and picnic spots. The application follows positive feedback from residents and community groups about the proposals.
The Croydon Growth Zone-funded programme will bring the land that connects Fairfield Halls and Croydon College back to life. The designs are for a large, multi-use park and meeting place that will provide a pleasant and accessible route from East Croydon Station to the town centre.
The proposals support Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s priority to regenerate the town centre, by creating a more welcoming and accessible town centre for everyone who lives, works and visits the borough.
A six-day public exhibition was held at Croydon College in October as part of the engagement on the plans, along with: a public survey, a workshop with Croydon College students and speaking directly to local community groups.
About 88% of respondents indicated that they either strongly or very strongly agreed with the proposed plans. Conversely, just 2% disagreed with providing a public space at College Green, whilst 10% felt neutral.
Following the feedback, the designs have been developed further to increase greening, safety and inclusion, for example: planting of more trees and wildflowers near Fairfield Halls and making the Young Play area and Multi-Use Games Area more accessible and inviting.
MICA Architects were appointed by the Council to develop the designs, which build on the wider Fairfield Masterplan. The submitted planning application will be reviewed by the Local Planning Authority.
College Green is one of ten town centre projects being driven by Mayor Perry to improve connectivity, greenery and public spaces, and to celebrate the borough’s rich history. Fair Field, the site of College Green and Fairfield Halls, has a long history as The Walnut Fair, or October Fair, held from the end of the Middle Ages until the 1860s, by which time it was known as Croydon Fair.
Elsewhere in the town centre, improvements to Minster Green and Surrey Street are underway, along with an intensive clean-up and improvements to North End. The new Wellesley Road crossing was completed at the end of last year connecting East Croydon to the town centre, alongside public realm updates to George Street and Dingwall Road.
“We have received a really positive response as part of our engagement on the designs for College Green – thank you to everyone who got involved. I’m delighted we have reached the next stage in this process in transforming this historic site into a green and vibrant park for the whole community, as part of the regeneration of our town centre.”
The project is funded through Croydon’s Growth Zone, a business rate uplift retention funding mechanism which funds and delivers infrastructure and regeneration in the town centre. Projects within the Growth Zone Programme are delivered by the Council with the support of partners, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL).
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
