Croydon Council has lodged a planning application to transform College Green into a greener, inclusive public space featuring play areas and picnic spots. Funded by the Croydon Growth Zone, the scheme will revive the land linking Fairfield Halls and Croydon College, creating a large multi‑use park and meeting place, and providing a pleasant, accessible route between East Croydon Station and the town centre. The proposals support Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s priority to regenerate the town centre, making it more welcoming and accessible for people who live and work in the borough, as well as visitors. Public engagement included a six‑day exhibition at Croydon College in October, a borough‑wide survey, a student workshop and direct conversations with local community groups. Around 88% of respondents said they strongly or very strongly agreed with the plans; 2% disagreed with providing a public space at College Green, while 10% were neutral. Following feedback, the designs were refined to boost greening, safety and inclusivity — including planting more trees and wildflowers near Fairfield Halls, and making the Young Play area and the Multi‑Use Games Area more accessible and inviting. MICA Architects were appointed by the council to develop the proposals, which build on the wider Fairfield Masterplan. The submitted application will now be reviewed by the Local Planning Authority. College Green is one of ten town centre projects championed by Mayor Perry to improve connectivity, greenery and public spaces, while celebrating Croydon’s rich history. Fair Field — home to College Green and Fairfield Halls — historically hosted The Walnut Fair, or October Fair, from the late Middle Ages until the 1860s, when it became known as Croydon Fair. Elsewhere in the town centre, improvements to Minster Green and Surrey Street are under way, alongside an intensive clean‑up and upgrades at North End. The new Wellesley Road crossing was completed at the end of last year to better connect East Croydon to the town centre, complemented by public realm updates to George Street and Dingwall Road. “We have received a really positive response as part of our engagement on the designs for College Green – thank you to everyone who got involved. I’m delighted we have reached the next stage in this process in transforming this historic site into a green and vibrant park for the whole community, as part of the regeneration of our town centre,” said Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon. The project is funded through Croydon’s Growth Zone, a business rate uplift retention funding mechanism that delivers infrastructure and regeneration in the town centre. Growth Zone projects are delivered by the council with support from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Planning approval has been granted for the next stages of the major regeneration of the Channel View estate in Grangetown, paving the way for hundreds of new homes and community improvements. Cardiff Council’s Planning Committee approved the plans, enabling the delivery of 228 new energy-efficient homes aimed at meeting local housing demand while allowing existing residents to remain within their community. The development will be delivered across six phases, with a seventh phase dedicated to enhancements to The Marl public open space. Plans also include a new neighbourhood retail unit as part of phase three to support local services and boost activity in the area. The latest approval builds on outline planning permission granted in December 2021 for the wider Channel View masterplan. Work is already underway on phase one, being delivered by Wates Residential, which will provide 126 apartments for older residents across two blocks, replacing existing high-rise flats. Block B is due for completion later this year, while Block A is expected to be finished by the end of 2027. Wates Residential will continue its involvement in the project, having been appointed to deliver the next phases of the regeneration. Of the 228 homes approved, 189 will be affordable homes for council tenants, while 39 will be available for private sale. Seventy-five homes are earmarked for existing Channel View residents, ensuring they can remain in the area while moving into modern accommodation. The scheme will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, alongside two- to five-bedroom houses, with a particular focus on meeting the demand for larger family homes. One new block has been specifically designed for families, featuring two- and three-bedroom flats and duplexes, each with private amenity space. The building will also include a communal garden with play areas, storage for pushchairs and prams, and lift access. Ed Rees, Managing Director for Wates Residential Wales said: “Our partnership with Cardiff Council is going from strength to strength. The progress on phase one shows the impact we can deliver together. “As we continue that work, our team is fully embedded in the community and we are committed to creating places where people feel connected, supported and able to thrive. “With planning approval for phases two to seven now in place, the next stage of this regeneration feels incredibly exciting. Being contracted to deliver phases two and three A gives us the chance to build on what is working and bring more high quality, sustainable homes to local residents.” All new affordable homes will meet Welsh Government design quality and Lifetime Homes standards. Flats will include private balconies or patios, and all buildings over three storeys will have lift access. The wider scheme will also deliver significant green infrastructure, including sustainable drainage systems, green streets and two new open spaces designed to be safe, welcoming and suitable for socialising and informal play. These areas will connect with planned improvements to The Marl. Construction on phases two and three is expected to begin by the end of the year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Plans for a major redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre have been submitted to the London Borough of Bromley as part of proposals to transform the historic venue into a modern, sustainable and accessible sporting facility. Morgan Sindall Construction has put forward the planning application for the comprehensive refurbishment of the Grade II*-listed complex, which originally opened in 1964. The project has been procured through the Southern Construction Framework, with Morgan Sindall appointed as the main contractor. The proposals aim to revitalise the 15-hectare site while preserving its heritage features and upgrading facilities to modern standards. Plans include improvements designed to support sporting participation from grassroots to elite levels, enhanced accessibility across the site and sustainability upgrades intended to significantly reduce the venue’s carbon footprint. There are also ambitions to work with partners to revitalise the centre’s well-known athletics stadium. The redevelopment proposals have received backing from more than 15 national sports governing bodies as well as local authority leaders. Community engagement has also been strong, with more than 500 residents attending recent consultation events to discuss the plans. Key elements of the proposed redevelopment include a full refurbishment of the main sports centre building, expanded gym facilities and new spaces for sports clubs. The aquatics hall would be redesigned to include a 50-metre swimming pool and diving facilities alongside shallow water and 25-metre swimming, all located within a single unified space. The project also aims to enhance indoor sports areas to support year-round training for clubs, athletes and the local community. Under a ‘More Courts, More Sports, More Play’ concept, the scheme proposes new facilities including a six-court padel centre, 3×3 basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches and a full-size artificial multi-sports pitch. Further plans involve renovating existing stadium stands and constructing a new North Stand designed in collaboration with athletes to improve the atmosphere at sporting events. Accessibility improvements across the site would include a new step-free route linking the Penge and Crystal Palace sides of the park. Sustainability measures are central to the design, which targets a 97% reduction in carbon emissions. Using the CarboniCa digital carbon calculation tool, the project team plans to achieve this through measures such as rooftop photovoltaic panels and the installation of air source heat pumps. Additional upgrades include separating wet and dry areas with a new glazed screen to reduce noise and humidity and introducing an improved heating strategy expected to reduce energy demand by around 70%. A new community space is also planned, featuring a café, a 200-metre running track, an outdoor gym and a 3×3 basketball court. These facilities would be free to access and open to the public. The sports centre has played a major role in the UK’s sporting history, hosting landmark events such as the first Women’s FA Cup final and record-breaking performances including Steve Backley becoming the first man to throw the modern javelin beyond 90 metres, and Zola Budd setting a world record in the 5,000 metres. The redevelopment will include commemorative and interactive features highlighting these achievements. Alongside the physical improvements, the project will provide training and employment opportunities for young people in South London through Morgan Sindall’s social value initiatives. More than 40 people have already participated in programmes linked to the redevelopment, including the Future Palace Programme, which aims to involve young people in shaping the centre’s transformation. The initiative, led by Beyond the Box CIC and delivered with Morgan Sindall and project partners, has engaged 20 participants aged 15 to 25 from eight London boroughs. Through workshops and collaborative sessions, the programme allows young people to share their perspectives and help influence how the redeveloped centre will serve the community. Key organisations involved in the project include sports masterplan specialists WOO Architects, sustainability and decarbonisation experts Max Fordham, architects Faulkner Brown Architects and engineering and heritage specialists Alan Baxter Associates. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals