Victoria Park
Allen Scott led the renovation of the 23-hectare Victoria Park and Watercress Fields, Ashford’s largest and most central municipal park, after it was awarded £3.5m of NHL funding. Although valued as an open space, the park was greatly underused and fell short of its environmental, social and economic potential.
The goal of Allen Scott’s approach was to unlock both the natural and built heritage of the park. Design proposals were drawn up to restore key designed landscape features, to regain clarity in the purpose of each space, and provide remodeled or new facilities in the form of multi-use community spaces to support volunteering and events programmes, a new park café, children’s play and nursery, public toilets and maintenance compound. The park was fully completed in 2023.
Client: Ashford Borough Council
Role: Masterplanners / Lead Consultant / Contract Administrator
Value: £3.5m (capital works)
RIBA Stages: 1-6
Partners: Kaner Olette / Huntley Cartwright / Constant / Hawden Associates / Waterman
Key Elements: masterplanning / interpretation / access improvements / planting design / wetlands / SUDs / community hub / café / learning space / sensory garden / listed structures / river works / playground / MUGA
Victoria Park and Watercress Fields is Ashford’s largest and most central municipal park. Although valued as an open space, the Park wasn’t playing a meaningful role in the fabric and social life of the town and didn’t add to the character, identity and vitality of the South Ashford community.
The park was severely underused principally due its limited facilities, activities, movement patterns and lack of physical connection with the high-rise blocks and housing facing on to Watercress Fields. It also didn’t make best use of its built, natural and cultural heritage and connect people to place.
Ashford is going through a period of tremendous renewal and expansion – and this project unlocked the heritage of the site; provided training and education opportunities; helped reverse degradation; and will grow and develop into a sustainably managed 21st century park that welcomes the new generation of people arriving in the area.
The vision for the project was to:
Work with Ashford’s growing community to make Victoria Park a high-quality, well-loved destination, where people feel safe, can enjoy well-managed facilities, celebrate its rich heritage, and regularly engage with a diverse range of activities, habitats and social opportunities.
Create and improve habitats along the river, restore and redefine some of the park’s historic layout and planting, repair the Hubert Fountain (its most distinctive landmark), and create new facilities, such as a community building and play areas. As part of this the project will look to make a number of significant improvements, including:
Conserving existing historical and ecological features and sharing stories about them.
Improving facilities such as toilets, play areas, lighting, car park and path network.
Providing a café.
Improving wildlife and river corridor habitats.
Creating interpretation and educational resources.
Developing a long-term management and maintenance strategy.
Providing on site-staff and in-house team dedicated to the park project.
Developing an activity and event programme, in partnership with the community and local organisations.
