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A masterplan for the rejuvenation of Battersea park

a
Stephen Nice
a
Department of Recreation and the Arts , Greater London Council ,
Published online: 24 Feb 2007.

To cite this article: Stephen Nice (1983) A masterplan for the rejuvenation of Battersea park, Landscape Research, 8:2,
16-18, DOI: 10.1080/01426398308706065

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01426398308706065

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 A Masterplan for the Rejuvenation of Battersea Park
Stephen Nice
Department of Recreation and the Arts, Greater London Council
The park
The landscape masterplan for Battersea Park is the
first attempt by the Greater London Council (and
perhaps and local authority) to rejuvenate a large inner
city Victoria park. The Royal Parks apart, Battersea is
perhaps the most famous of London's parks. It has
attracted visitors from far afield and still does for
special events. In reality its potential catchment area is
far greater than the 2 mile radius indicated for a
metropolitan park.
Battersea Park is the largest municipal park in South
London. It occupies an area of approximately 80 ha.
overlooking the River Thames between Albert Bridge
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and Chelsea Bridge.
Laid out to a design by Sir James Pennethorne, the
park was opened by Queen Victoria in 1858. Key
features of the original design such as the
carriageways, lake and central avenue still exist as do
the remains of the sub-tropical garden and cascade
which were later Victorian additions. Management of
the park was transferred from central government to
the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1887 and
subsequently became the responsibility of the London
County Council.
In 1951 the Festival Gardens were created as part of the
Festival of Britain celebrations and attracted 8 million
visitors during Festival year. Of the many features
included in the Festival Gardens, the open air theatre,
riverside restaurant, water vista, fountains and much of
the formal flower gardens have been retained.
The need for a plan
Since then the lack of a management plan, the inability
to recruit or retain experienced staff and reductions in
staffing levels and money over many years have
contributed to a lowering of maintenance standards,
worsening facilities and a general deterioration in the
park's fabric.
The Greater London Council took over administration
of the park in 1965. The occasional well-publicised
event such as the Easter parade recalls the park's wider
metropolitan role. The park also continues to provide
sports and passive recreation for the local community
though its enormous leisure and recreational potential
are far from being realised.
Recognition of the problems facing Battersea Park
resulted in the Council issuing instructions to officers
in early 1980 to prepare a landscape masterplan.
Surveys
As well as carrying out comprehensive physical and
visual surveys it was felt necessary to try and establish
the functions of a late 20th century inner city park and
the leisure demands of its users before considering
how they might be accommodated into an existing
landscape structure designed in the nineteenth
century. Attention was payed to the park's historic
uses and layout; and to present day and potential uses
that might result given improved facilities. Parks
elsewhere in Britain and abroad were studied as were
leisure trends generally. The answers reached relate
specifically to Battersea and cannot be taken as
general guidelines, but they may suggest the sort of
directions that need to be followed if parks are to be
made more relevant to today's needs.
16
Proposals
The survey and analysis suggested that the park
required major renovation of its existing landscape
features and facilities to prevent further rapid
deterioration as well as new developments to cater for
today's wider leisure demands.
Thus the proposals formulated aim to improve the
park's basic fabric by a substantial long term planting
programme. This is designed to regenerate the
existing mature tree structure and to increase plant
and visual diversity and wildlife habitats. In addition
pavings, fences and park furniture were found to need
rationalisation and, over much of the park, renewal.
Within this framework will be slotted key projects to
improve the park's facilities. Six areas have been
identified in the analysis for the new features which will
provide all weather and all season use {particularly
important to optimise investment in the park) and allow
for a wider range of passive and active pursuits
covering sport, culture, education and entertainment
to suit all tastes and ages.
Features of the original Victorian design will be
retained and where necessary refurbished. New
features will be carefully located to complement the
existing park character and their design will create a
style unique to Battersea Park.
The six broadly defined areas each have a distinct but
complementary character reflected in the ideas that
are proposed to bring about the park's rejuvenation.
The six areas
The River Front is to be given an improved, high quality
Thameside promenade to provide the setting for a
major entertainment complex which will be served by a
new pier and waterbus service. The promenade will be
linked to the rest of the park by three main axes and
together with the entertainment complex will be used
day and evening throughout the year. The restaurant
and entertainment complex are the subject of a public
competition.
An overhead monorail, with a terminus at the River
Front, will be a further link bewteen various park
features. It will be a lightweight construction in hi-tech
style with novel built-in features of its own.
The Pleasure Gardens aim to rekindle the spirit of
enjoyment associated with the Festival Gardens. A
complete redesign will create a series of interlinked
compartments. Elements of the past are being
combined with more recent design concepts to
produce a beautiful and stimulating setting for
relaxation and entertainment. Additions include
ornamental gardens, a geodesic domed glass plant
house and aviary, a children's village and zoo, varied
theme gardens, a large open arena for outdoor
concerts, circuses and other suitable events, crazy golf
and an outdoor roller and ice skating rink. The whole
area will be illuminated to allow evening use, with
discrete fencing to prevent access to the rest of the
park.
The Central Open Space, in contrast to the more
elaborate facilities of the Pleasure Gardens and River
Front will form a relaxed area of open grassland
providing a number of sports pitches. Part of the old
funfair site, now a large expanse of tarmac will be
returned to soft landscape extending the area for
passive recreation.
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BATTERSEA PARK
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17
 The Lake requires dredging, cleaning and repairing
along its edge as well as the replanting of its immediate
surrounds. This will provide improved boating and
fishing facilities and a new lakeside walk incorporating
timber bridges linking the islands. The creation of a
wetland area will provide a varied environment in
which to view and learn about plants and wildlife. The
sub-tropical garden, cascade and Pump House, all
Victorian features, will be refurbished, the Pump
Housing becoming an educational centre for the
wildlife area.
The Boundary Area is presently over-mature with
grass and trees in urgent need of regeneration. As part
of a long term planting programme it is proposed to
create a more natural source of woodland glades and
paths which will allow selected views into the park's
interior whilst retaining its function as an important
barrier against external intrusions. The whole park will
be enclosed by mild steel railings designed to match
the existing entrance gates. A feature of the original
design, they are considered a necessary measure to
control vandalism and improve the effectiveness of
park supervision.
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The Sports Facilities will provide a better standard and
greater variety of indoor and outdoor sporting
activities for the public. The inclusion of floodlighting
and all weather surfaces will extend the period of
possible use. A new 8 lane athletic track, all-weather
multi-purpose games pitch, pavilion and sports hall
and additional tennis courts are being provided.
Comprehensive landscape proposals and careful
siting will integratethe play surfaces and buildings into
the park setting.
Costs and benefits
The proposals outlined have implications for the
future management of the park. Needless to say, to
maintain the high quality of the ideas put forward,
increases in both staff and budget will be required. A
comprehensive management plan is being provided
and will form a fundamental part of the scheme. Park
management staff have been involved from the outset
and continue to work closely with the design team.
Landscape Dates
21-25 September. 19S3. World Conference on
Olmstead Parks. National Association for Olmstead
Parks in New York City. Details from NAOP, 175
Fifth Avenue, The Flatiron Building, New York 10010.
23 September, 1983. Ecology and Upland Land Use.
British Ecological Society at York University. Details
from Dr. R. S. Smith, Faculty of Agriculture, The
University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU.
15-16 October, 1983. Recording Farm Buildings.
Institute of Industrial Archaeology at the Ironbridge
George Museum. Details from Michael Stratton,
Institute of Industrial Archaeology, Ironbridge,
Telford. Shropshire TF8 7AW.
3-5 January, 1984. Weed Control and Vegetation
Management in Forests and Amenity Areas.
Association of Applied Biologists, Institute of
Foresters and Recreation Ecology Research Group
at Nottingham University. Details from Dr. D. J.
Turner, ARC Weed Research Organisation.
Bigbrooke Hill, Yarnton, Oxford 0X5 1PF.
2 3 - 2 7 April. 1984. Land Management for
Conservation in Europe's Protected Landscapes.
Peak Park Planning Board at Losehill Hall. Details
from Peter Townsend, Peak National Park Study
Centre. Losehill Hall. Castleton, Derbyshire S30
2WB.
18
The refurbishment of Battersea Park will benefit many
sectors of the community and consultations with the
local boroughs, community groups and the public at
large are seen as a vital ingredient in the development
of the masterplan. Relevant comments and
suggestions are being included prior to the production
of detailed plans and will also be sought as the scheme
progresses.
An outline development programme extending over
some twelve years is anticipated, total annual
expenditure running at a little over £2 million.
Much work remains to be done before final Council
approval is obtained and the scheme is implemented.
But the first steps towards the first major renewal of a
large inner city park have now been taken. Other
initiatives may follow and help to improve the fabric of
our inner city open spaces.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily
represent GLC policy.
Landscape and Painting
14-16 OCTOBER, 1983 IN EXETER
The Landscape Research Group is organizing a major
conference on Landscape and Painting, in association
with the Exeter College of Art and Design and the
University of Exeter. The conference will explore the
intimate relationship between the landscape and the
painters who have drawn inspiration from it; and will
probe too the way in which the landscape, and our
attitudes to it are affected by paintings. Contributors
have a variety of viewpoints including that of art
historian, practising painter and geographer. This
exciting venture - breaks new ground- and offers
opportunity to explore little developed relationships.
The provisional programme includes:
Michael Rosenthal (Warwick) on 'Approaches to
Landscape Painting'.
John Thornes (Birmingham) on 'Meteorology and
Painting'.
Michael Pidgley (Exeter) on 'Locale attribution'.
Anthea Callen (Warwick) on 'Empirical Observation
and Pictorial Convention'.
Andrew Hemingway (Ealing) on 'Content in John
Crome's work'.
Andrew Causey (Manchester) on 'Twentieth Century
Landscape1.
Steven Daniels (Nottingham) on 'English Landscape
Garden".
Peter Howard (Exeter) on 'Subject Classification and
Quantification".
There will be sessions, too, with practising painters,
Keith Grant (Roehampton) and Alan Richards (Exeter)
and a final address by Jay Appleton (Hull).
The weekend and events will be housed in the new
Conference Centre of the University of Exeter, which
affords a much painted view of the City. Much of the
Saturday will be spent in the City with the fine
collection of English water colours at the Royal Albert
Memorial Museum, and with practising painters.
The cost of accommodation (full board from Friday
dinner to Sunday lunch) is £55 which includes the
conference fee; £50 to LRG members. The non-
residential conference fee (which includes coffees,
teas and Sunday lunch) is £20. A non-returnable
deposit of £10 (cheques payable to Landscape
Research Group) with the remainder payable on arrival
will secure your place. Applications should be made
to Dr. Andrew Gilg, Department of Geography,
University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive,
Exeter EX4 4RJ.
Further information about the conference is available
from Peter Howard, Arts Research Department, Exeter
College of Art and Design, Earl Richards Road North,
Exeter EX2 6AS.