Agenda item

A short presentation covering:

·  What is the proposal?

·  Introduction to ZhongRong Group.

·  Architect competition – process, design philosophy and update on shortlist.

·  Transport – constraints and approach as they progress towards an application.

·  Information on the questionnaire results so far and programme.

·  Q&A session to respond to any concerns raised by the community council.

ChrisTunnell and Katie Kerr from Arup were in attendance to speak about the Crystal Palace Park project.

What is the Crystal Palace Park project?

The ZhongRong Group had put forward a proposal to rebuild the Crystal Palace on the ‘top site’ and to restore and upgrade the park to match the spirit and form of the original design. The scale of investment would be beyond anything proposed before and provided the opportunity to fund the master plan’s ambitions for the park but without the residential proposals contained in the Master Plan.

Arup

The plans were announced at a launch event by investors, ZhongRong Group, with the support of the Mayor of London and the Leader of Bromley Council. Arup were appointed by the ZhongRong Group to develop a concept for the new palace and prepare the design principles that will inform the building concept in the next stage.

Over the next year, Arup would provide support to the ZhongRong Group to engage with local people, statutory stakeholders and the wider London population as part of the process to design and shape the form, and role, of the palace. The proposed new Crystal Palace would have a major new cultural attraction on the site of the original Victorian building, which burned down in 1936.

Chris acknowledged this would be a very challenging project and explained that the ZhongRong Group were appointed by a team of advisors to help form the development.  A press release was launched in October 2013 to start public engagement which involved various meetings being held in the local area.

Chris outlined that the purpose of the development was to restore the park.  He said people’s views and comments expressed at the meeting would be taken on board.

The presentation highlighted that the project would include the following uses:

Mix of uses

·  Public exhibition space

·  Visitor attraction – more work needs to be done on this

·  Art galleries

·  Public spaces

·  Boutiques and auction room

·  Hotel – visit cultural attraction

·  Plus interchange car parking – although there would be a limited amount of car parking on site.

The presenters stated that following the initial consultation 54% of those that commented said they were in favour of the Crystal Palace park project and 28% were unsure.

Views

·  Loss of open spaces

·  Loss of architectural heritage 

·  Impact on local centres

·  Pressure on public transport

·  Impact of ecology

·  Approach to Transport – confirmed there were plans to hold a transport workshop.

The presenters took questions and noted comments from community groups, residents and Members.

The views expressed and responses to the questions included the following:

·  The representatives agreed that the park needed some cultural offering which had been raised in the early stages of the engagement.

·  Review the transport issues – Arup agreed to come back to the community council on these issues possibly in the summer of 2014.

·  Arup agreed to run a series of publicity – e.g. leaflet drop and post information on local forums in the Dulwich area.

·  Provide suitable venues for future public engagement events, as the previous venues were unsuitable and were not able to accommodate the large numbers of people that had attended events in the past.

·  Concerns were raised about the project being rushed through and that 2015 was an unrealistic timeframe for completion.

·  Note resident’s concerns about the impact and increased volume of traffic in the area, more so when development has been completed.

·  Requested that the woodlands at Crystal Palace park be protected and ensure the “Friends of Belair Park” and other local groups are fully consulted during stages of public engagement.

·  Note that all consultation analysis would be on the organisation’s website. www.arup.com

·  Presenters to note that local residents were provided with enough green space once the development was completed. 

·  Further information should be provided on the development’s mix uses.

·  Further information and justification during the public engagement process on why it was decided that the development should take place on open metropolitan land.

The chair thanked the presenters and everyone that contributed to the meeting.