Planning and regeneration

Wellesley Road and Park Lane International Urban Design Competition

Introduction

The Wellesley Road and Park Lane development is a milestone in transforming, improving and regenerating the public realm of Croydon. This project requires a forward-looking, world-class team with a deliverable vision. We have embarked on an International Urban Design Competition to ensure that Croydon gets a high-quality space and best value for money.

Project Update:

The competition consists of two stages followed by negotiations.

Stage 1 was the expression of interest and prequalification stage. This concluded with a shortlist of four teams being invited to take part in the design competition. The expression of interest closed at 12 noon GMT on 1 December 2008. Fifty submissions were received:

• United Kingdom - 36  
• Europe - 9 (The Netherlands 3; Denmark 2; one each from Italy, Spain,  Sweden and Portugal) 
• Other parts of the world - 5 (USA 4; Canada 1)

One submission arrived incomplete and was not considered.

The short listed teams were: 

• Edward Cullinan Architects 
• James Corner Field Operations 
• Hawkins Brown
• OKRA Landscape Architects

Stage 2 was the design competition itself. The short-listed design teams received a Stage 2 design document, visited the site and attended a stakeholder forum. They then submitted their competition entries anonymously. The design concepts were presented at a public exhibition at the Croydon Visitor Centre, which had over 500 people visitors. A further 1500 people viewed the designs on the dedicated website, www.croydonthirdcity.co.uk. One hundred thirty-nine people provided feedback on questionnaires.

The submissions were judged by the assessors against the Stage 2 criteria and those of James Corner Field Operations and OKRA Landscape Architects scored the highest. The companies have been invited to take part in a competitive procurement procedure with the aim of appointing a preferred bidder to enter into a contract with the London Borough of Croydon to develop the project.

An estimated value of the investment is in the region of £40-50m and will need approximately six years to be delivered although there may be a simpler solution that delivers many of the benefits at a lower price. The proposed solution will also be capable of being implemented in phases.

Interviews will take place 16 June and the Cabinet decision on the appointment is expected 6 July 2009. Croydon Council intends to sign the contract by the end of July 2009.

The competition is assessed by a jury comprising:

• Chairman Steve O'Connell, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, London Borough of Croydon
• Councillor Jason Perry, Cabinet Member for Planning, London Borough of Croydon
• Will Alsop, Alsop Architects
• Joanna Averley, Deputy Chief Executive And Director of Enabling, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
• Colin Mann, Head of Group Borough Programmes, Transport for London
• Peter Bishop, Group Director for Design, Development and Environment, London Development Agency (LDA)
• Jon Rouse, Chief Executive, London Borough of Croydon

The designs can be viewed via the croydonthirdcity.co.uk associated link.