The funding for rejuvenating Crystal Palace Park, which encompasses the restoration of its Grade-I listed dinosaur sculptures, will be sourced from the sale of adjacent land earmarked for affordable housing.
Bromley Council has allocated nearly £22 million from the land sale specifically for the restoration of the dinosaurs, in addition to the development of a dinosaur-themed playground, a visitor center, a community center, and a café.
Clarion Housing Group, the purchaser, plans to construct around 120 homes on the acquired land, offering a combination of social rental units and shared-ownership properties.
Yvonne Bear, a representative of the council, remarked that this signifies “another milestone achieved in the revitalization of this historic park.”
The 29 Grade I-listed dinosaur sculptures were crafted between 1853 and 1855 by artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and are located on an island within the park.
These figures are recognized as one of the earliest attempts to recreate extinct animals at life size based on fossil evidence.
While popularly known as the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, only four of the sculptures are classified as actual dinosaurs, with the remainder representing ancient mammals, amphibians, as well as marine and flying reptiles.
The land sale comprises two sites designated for housing development: Rockhills and Sydenham Villas.
Outline planning permission for these residential developments was granted as part of a broader regeneration initiative in 2021, collaboratively undertaken by Bromley Council and the Crystal Palace Park Trust.
Ms. Bear expressed satisfaction, stating, “While the land sale for housing has always been intended, I am delighted that we have ensured affordable housing from this initiative.”
Richard Cook, chief development officer at Clarion Housing Group, emphasized that it is “committed to fostering both housing and heritage, which will benefit the local community for years to come.”
Victoria Pinnington, chief executive of Crystal Palace Park Trust, described the sale as a “remarkable investment in the park.”
She added, “Not only does it return more parkland for public enjoyment, but it also propels us forward in the park’s regeneration efforts.”
The financial backing from the sale follows the acquisition of several grants, including £5 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to assist with the forthcoming projects.
