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Mayor backs plans for houses in Crystal Palace Park
MIRA BAR HILLEL PROPERTY CORRESPONDENT3 Dec 2008
Boris Johnson has given his backing to plans to build 180 houses in a south London park.
The Mayor has written to Bromley council to signal he will approve the plans for land in Crystal Palace Park.
The London Development Agency proposals are part of a £100million package of plans for the Grade II* listed park.
The LDA wants the sale of the houses to pay for park facilities, including a museum, an information kiosk and a sports centre.
In his letter to Bromley council, which will decide on the plans next Tuesday, the Mayor wrote that the proposals "would be a significant benefit to south London".
The letter will raise concerns that the Mayor is reneging on election promises.to protect open land from "greedy developers".
John Payne of the Crystal Palace Community Association said: "We are totally opposed to the building of any houses on park land."
Reader views (12)
I too live in the Crystal Palace area and I strongly disagree with this. Developing on green sites in any area is a dangerous precedent, and there are far more suitable areas in SE London than CP Park, regardless if it is a disused caravan park or whatever.
What is really needed at a local level is investment in the infrastucture of the area - the park's need is nowhere near as urgent as parts of the Crystal Palace Triangle, which is looking shabbier and shabbier. The area has a window of opportunity before the East London line extension, and this is the wrong call. We need an infrastucture for local people, not more local people.
- Joe, Crystal Palace, 08/07/2009 16:44
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I find it very interesting that you "anti Boris" types jump on this proposal and yet none of you live in the borough and dount if you have even been to the park!!!
I do live in the borough and the Crystal Palace Park is fantastic, heaped in history, houses what was the National Sports Centre and is probably one of the largest parks in london with lots of it not usable because it hasnt had any support or funds from the current goverment or the previous mayor Ken and as such has been left to rot away.
Bromley have done a very good with keeping the park safe and pleasent for everyone but for the sports centre and other areas of the park such as the zoo and Dinosaur area to be improved it needs some need cash, so this solution works well as its also providing some very much needed afforable homes as well.
So I wholly support Boris and Bromley in this, who knows they even invest some of the cash on the very much needed improvements of the old "Crystal Palace" site and the provide a very much needed upto date sports centre and athletics for the area.
So stop moaning and see the light... or raise/donate funds to Bromley to solve the problem if not keep your views north and not in my borough or any other that you dodnt live in.
- John W, Bromley, 05/12/2008 14:07
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At least Ken would have got the developer to contribute to the Tramlink extension to Crystal Palace, like he did with the westfield development.
I fail to see why your complaining about what Boris Johnson is doing after all he was voted in by people from your part of London.
You only get what you voted for as they say you should'nt believe everything you read in newspapers!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 04/12/2008 12:33
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Boris Johnson as not show nothing since he been elected as mayor of London.all he done is scrap and saying I'm going to do this it as not happened, now he lying in his election promises.
if i was mayor of London i would not build on that land as Crystal Palace Park is a historic park.
- Andy, LONDON, 04/12/2008 00:09
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If there is a petition against these plans, I will sign.
- Victor3, London, 03/12/2008 22:25
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Ken gave his blessing to this sale of parkland for luxury private flats despite launching his first Mayoral election campaign with a promise to save Crystal Palace Park from the hated multiplex. Then Boris announced he would protect London's green and open spaces, not just during his pre-election speeches, but as his 3rd priority 2 minutes after he won. Now Boris is happy to allow developers on Grade II* registered, MOL and Conservation Area, because his LDA says it needs the money for “Basic Park Improvements". Stephen Carr, Bromley Leader, has publicly stated that much of the funding for this Park must come from the private sectors:“funded through housing and hotel developments”. Parks are a public facility and should be funded as such - or are they to go the way of playing fields (and the NHS but that's another issue)? There is no viable business plan in the 11,000-page LDA application, nor any reference that more parkland won't be sold off. Bromley Council has neglected this Park at the tip of its huge borough for years and can't wait to be rid of it. Park users have been asking for children's playgrounds, basketball courts, cafés and 'park related facilities' for decades, but don't need £100 million worth (£67.5m official, + consultants' fees, VAT etc. The NSC is separately funded, already under LDA control). Parks are vital green spaces in our urban environment. This loss will set a precedent. If you treasure YOUR open space, support the outcry to protect this one.
- Suzanne Elkin, Cpca, London SE19, 03/12/2008 12:45
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As far as I'm aware the proposal is to build the 180 new homes on the caravan site that occupies the site of Rockhills (originally John Paxton's house). This site was never part of Crystal Palace park so I don't understand what the fuss is about. Where's the money to improve the park going to come from if the housing is blocked?
- Julie, Crystal Palace, 03/12/2008 12:44
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It has'nt taken long for Boris Johnson to show what an untrustworthy liar he really is.
The man is also a fool - as he recently scrapped plans for extension of the Tramlink into Crystal Palace which he promised he would back before being elected.
So now 180 new homes will add to the already chaotic traffic conditions and our idiot 'Mayor' has said no to better Public Transport for these new residents.
Not only are new homes not needed in the area - they are being built on land that was always intended to be for recreational use for the General Public.
The sooner we get rid of Boris the better - before he does irevocable damage to London.
- Joe Grech, Thornton Heath, Croydon, England, 03/12/2008 11:34
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Johnson is working even harder than Ken Livingston to allow green land to be used for housing. The large park lands are one of London's great treasures. Watch for a lot of them to be gone before Johnson's gone.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 03/12/2008 10:31
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Rather a pity. I suppose most people are open to £100 million pound offers though.
- W R Stevenson, London SE26, 03/12/2008 10:26
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This is insane, and shows what this absolute this Mayor is - building on the beautiful Crystal Palace park. Boris Johnson shows no more regard for London than for his personal image - get rid of this idiot now!!!!!!
- Ken Joralemon, london, uk, 03/12/2008 09:58
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Because the park is split over 4 councils, every major development proposal so far has been put to a vote and blocked by one council continuously - Bromley, and good on them, it doesn't need houses, flats or a shopping centre, it's one of Londons biggest parks and should remain such.
- Bob, Cheam, 03/12/2008 09:01
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