Sally led the redesign engagement and contract admin of Dickens Park, an important community park neighbouring three estates in a densely populated part of Southwark.

Working with local stakeholders, we held a series of community co-design workshops including park walks, to deliver a final design including a large play component. Our transformation makes Dickens Fields safe and welcoming, biodiverse, playable and accessible landscape. We re-used all site won material in our design to create a new play area, with adventurous landforms and structures.

A new plaza to replace the former road integrates bespoke seating and a gym, while allowing maintenance access and a better environment for the adjacent mosque. Permeable paving to new soakaways adds to the schemes environmental credentials.

Transformed and new entrances improve connections with the wider neighbourhood and landform design discourages desirelines, enabling wildflower meaows to thrive. Reconfigured walls and paths improve access and sightlines from adjacent streets allowing passive surveillance and a more welcoming, safer park for all.

The park was re-opened in 2023 and feedback has been very positive with residents and park users describing the project as “a transformation” and “an absolute triumph”.

With bird species including Blackcap and Green woodpecker it is now a better linking green corridor with diverse habitats for nature and people. 

SPLA were contracted by LDA Design to deliver this project.