Burgess Park has the green light

Burgess Park has the green light

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Burgess Park has got the green light for its £6m makeover, after planners at Southwark Council approved the project.

In March of 2009, it was announced that Burgess Park had won £2m from the Mayor of London under his 'Help a London Park' programme. The park also received match funding of a further £4million from the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities (now Creation Trust).

The planned changes to the park include creating improved entrances, removing redundant roads and pathways, creating a variety of different wildlife habitats, and expanding and improving the lake.

It's hoped that the first phase of the park's improvements will be completed by March 2012.

The park's development will be carried out with the continued engagement of the stakeholder groups, and the Burgess Park project board, to ensure community input at every stage. The council will keep the public informed of each major stage of the works through regular newsletters and online updates, and is currently exploring volunteering opportunities in the park when the works are completed.

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, said: "This planning approval is a massive step towards a new and exciting Burgess Park.

"The opportunities presented by these plans come around once-in-a-lifetime, and this is great news not just for users of Burgess Park but for Southwark as a whole. The park is a real gem, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank not just the Mayor's office and Creation, but the whole community for their support and enthusiasm."

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, added: "This is an important step forward in improving Burgess Park and now the real work can begin. The park will be transformed with better layout, colourful gardens and wildlife areas for local people and visitors alike to enjoy."

Charlotte Benstead, director of Creation Trust, added: "These plans will make Walworth a destination and reason to visit rather than a cut through for the residents of Southwark, we have already seen more use of the park with our outside free gym.

"Improving the park is a major aspect of attracting more investment to help regenerate the Aylesbury Estate. We hope that this adds impetus to getting the Area Action Plan fully implemented."
Background

Burgess Park was granted £2million by the Mayor of London in March 2009. It was selected by the Mayor to receive the largest grant under his 'Help a London Park ' programme.

The Mayor's grant was matched with a further £4million of funding which was secured through an enhanced partnership between the council and the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities. The £6million revitalisation project is in addition to over £1.2million that's been invested in the Chumleigh Gardens open space, play area and cafe in the heart of the park.