July 2011
Funded by the “Parks for People” a joint initiative between the Big Lottery Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund with match funding from Waltham Forest Council.
Lloyd Park has nearly a million visits a year and it is hoped this will increase once the work is complete.
For details of the William Morris Gallery refurbishment click here.
1. Zoning the Park
To enable each part of the park to be developed effectively the consultants, Plincke, identified four areas:
a. Heritage Restoration Zone – Forest Road area including the William Morris Gallery (WMG) and the front and rear gardens.
b. Island and Moat area
c. Hub Area – where the old buildings were
d. The Fields – Aveling Fields
2. Heritage - Restoration Zone
a. The garden in front of the WMG will be landscaped with restoration of the railings and the front carriage drive with traffic specification resin bonded gravel.
b. The existing terraces behind the WMG to be conserved.
c. Redecorate the Lodge.
d. Convert the park keeper’s office into a base for FOLP.
e. Remove the aviary.
f. Build a William Morris themed garden on the site of the old synthetic bowling green.
g. Remove the synthetic bowling green and rebuild with a new pavilion where the skate park was located.
h. Restore the rockery.
3. Island and Moat Area
a. Restore existing historic bridge.
b. Create a new path using hoggin across the island linking the Heritage Zone with the Hub Area.
c. Build a new bridge to the north of the island to link the key activity areas in the park.
d. Demolish Theatre
e. Refurbish railings on both sides of the moat.
f. Grass over the site of the theatre so that it can be used by park visitors.
g. The island to be used 20 times a year for events.
h. Water and electricity pillar to be installed on island for temporary events use.
i. Restore bridge and improve entrance from Winns Avenue to island.
j. Improve the water quality and the biodiversity of the moat.
k. Widen Clay Path (night path) and re-route it by removing some of the railings.
l. Clay Path to be closed at night.
m. Refurbish two tennis courts and create a third.
n. Restore Coach House in existing maintenance yard as a “wet” area resource.
o. Install two pond dipping decks around moat.
4. Hub Area
a. New linear play area created for each age range alongside perimeter of the Lloyd Park Centre. A toddlers area will be adjacent to Clay Path and play equipment will be installed for older age groups culminating in a new skatepark beside the Artist Studio building.
b. Remove tennis courts by old buildings.
c. Retain the Artists’ Studios and screen building so that graffiti wall is removed.
d. Demolish and rebuild the rest of the hub buildings with a green roof to provide an art gallery, café with toilets, a training room for community use.
e. The retained artist studios and new hub buildings will all managed by Waltham Forest College.
f. Included in the hub will be a new Park Keeper’s office.
g. A biomass boiler located in the Kier maintenance depot adjacent to the Aveling Park Road entrance will heat the new buildings.
h. Create an outdoor sitting area adjacent to the café overlooking the children’s play area.
i. The existing Skatepark to be demolished and rebuilt to the latest specifications on land adjacent to the Artist Studios in Aveling Fields.
j. The existing Skatepark land to be used for a new synthetic bowling green. The Walthamstow Bowling Club will move from behind the WMG.
k. A bowls pavilion for community use will be built adjacent to the new bowling green.
l. Improve the existing maintenance yard by Aveling Park Road and create a staff and disabled car park.
m. Improve entrance at Aveling Park Road.
5. Aveling Fields
a. Improve entrances at Brettenham and Aveling Park Road.
b. Relocate the park maintenance yard to the Aveling Park Road entrance.
c. Nature planting around the perimeter.
d. Near the new skatepark install a wetland pond and ecology area.
e. Resurface the basketball court.
6. General
a. New contemporary signage throughout the park.
b. Improve the lighting around the hub buildings.
c. Install new seating and litter bins.
d. Hundreds of new trees and shrubs to be planted.
e. Improve biodiversity of the park.
f. Resurface paths
g. Increase the seating.
h. Create a “Dog Off Lead” alongside path to Aveling Park Road entrance.
i. Refurbish railings.
Staffing
a. A Community Project Co-ordinator has been appointed to develop learning and volunteering and community liaison.
b. Head Gardner, in addition to existing Park Keeper’s, to be appointed to ensure the higher standard of horticulture be maintained.
7. Timescale
Work started on 20th June 2011 and will finish in April 2012.
8. Finance
Heritage Lottery Fund in conjunction with the Big Lottery £3.5m
Waltham Forest Council £1.75m
London Marathon Trust new Bowls pavilion £0.085m
Waltham Forest College - new kitchen £0.070m
Play Builder £0.015m
Total capital cost of project £5.7m