Bramcote Park competition

New London Architecture  and Southwark Council have announced a new competition for a transformative redesign of Bramcote Park.

Organised alongside landowners Notting Hill Genesis and Optivo, the idea is to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive park that is shaped by the local community’s needs.

The competition invites architects, landscape architects, designers and artists to submit innovative and creative design ideas for a new masterplan for the park, which is currently split into two disjointed sections by a traffic-heavy main road.

With an extensive consultation process in 2019 identifying local desire for significant improvements to Bramcote Park, this project offers the exciting opportunity to work closely with residents to reimagine the feel and experience of the park.

Tying in to the council’s Southwark Stands Together initiative, the competition is seeking an innovative redesign that fosters inclusivity and reflects the diverse communities that live and work locally, as well as the cultural heritage of the area.

This investment in Bramcote Park has been made possible by the ongoing regeneration of Old Kent Road, which will see £550k funded through Section 106 developer contributions to this project.

The proposed design should be driven by the needs of the existing community. This means renewing existing play areas and introducing more seating, planting and a focus on greenery to create a shared environment that is accessible to all.

The competition also welcomes an emphasis on low-carbon and sustainable measures, such as use of natural materials and reduced reliance on new materials.

In addition to improvements within the park, the proposal should extend the area’s green links and help to establish more direct connections into the surrounding neighbourhood streets. By establishing safer, social streets that promote pedestrian and bike travel over vehicular access, the project aims to re-unite the different sections of Bramcote Park into one cohesive, community space.

Interested applicants are invited to submit proposals by midday on 21 October 2021.

Up to six shortlisted teams will be awarded a £500 honorarium to develop their proposals with residents and local stakeholders, which will feature in a public exhibition in November.

The total budget available for the winning project is in the region of £550k (incl. VAT). This includes all fees for the fabrication and installation of the park design and public realm improvements in late 2022.

The competition entries will be judged by a panel including:

• Aida Esposito (Founding Director, creativethinking)
• Rosa Rogina (Director, London Festival of Architecture)
• Sanjiv Sangha (Head of Technical, Design Quality and New Homes, Optivo)
• Colin Wilson (Head of Regeneration, Old Kent Road, Southwark Council)
• Two local resident representatives

Download the full press pack, including the call for entries document.

Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development, said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity to deliver a project that will have a real and meaningful social impact. The Old Kent Road area is undergoing a major transformation that will deliver huge benefits to local people, not least by creating new housing, new jobs and a much better environment. This project, which will be paid for by contributions from developers in the area, will help us deliver a much-improved park for today’s community and for generations to come.”

Rosa Rogina, Director of the London Festival of Architecture, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Southwark Council on this ambitious competition, which prioritises collaboration with residents to transform Bramcote Park into a valuable space that reflects local aspirations and offers a lasting, positive legacy to its community. In past months, the lockdown has highlighted the importance of community and open spaces in our cities. Now, this open call is a chance to explore innovative and creative design solutions that can provide an inviting and accessible public realm experience – returning important park amenities to community use and re-establishing Bramcote Park as a key point of connection of the local area.”