Council Set to Submit Plans to Improve Alton Estate
Includes upgrading play spaces at Downshire Field and Alton Activity Centre
The bull on Danebury Avenue to benefit from more subtle lighting. Picture: Wandsworth Council
March 15, 2024
Wandsworth Council has announced that it is poised to submit a planning application for the first stage of its Early Improvement Plan for the Alton estate in Roehampton.
The proposals include upgrading the existing play spaces at Downshire Field and Alton Activity Centre, and landscape changes at Downshire Field, which include creating new wildflower meadow areas, new pathways and a new trim trail.
There will also be some subtle changes to the planting and lighting around the Bull statue on Downshire Field so that it sits more prominently in the area.
The council hopes to present a shortlist of options later in the year for further stages of its development plan which it says will be driven by feedback from residents in earlier consultations.
Aydin Dikerdem, Cabinet Member for Housing said, “We remain committed to delivering what is best for the Alton. We are thinking beyond housing numbers and are looking at the wider picture – how can we improve Roehampton and the Alton estate for everyone? We are developing an overarching placemaking strategy with a package of improvements that will do just that.
“Downshire Field is a unique setting and these improvements are purposefully designed to enhance this much-loved part of the Alton Estate and benefit the whole community.
“Roehampton, and the Alton estate, presents a unique set of circumstances. How we address the challenges here, and the decisions we take, will support our ultimate aim of creating a fairer, compassionate and more sustainable Wandsworth for everyone.”
Kate Stock, Cabinet Member for Children, said, “One of our key aims with the Early Improvement Plan has been to ensure that it the play space will be fully accessible and inclusive, and there has been a lot of focus on ensuring that there are areas designed for girls to feel safe.
“By reducing the height of the existing fencing we will also improve access to this play area, making it more welcoming for the whole community.”
Following the formal submission of the application, residents will be able to comment on the plans before it is considered by the council’s Planning Applications Committee.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |