Project Background
Crawter's Brook was a poorly regarded 3 hectare site at a prominent location in the heart of the Manor Royal Business District and had been neglected over many years. It was overgrown and impassable in places and had become a site for fly tipping and rubbish. The Manor Royal BID reclaimed the area to address these issues and create a facility that would contribute to the attractiveness of the Business District.
Project Costs
£350,000 (Kick Start grant from West Sussex County Council)
£45,550 (Manor Royal BID)
£395,550 - Total Costs
Project Outcomes
HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially opened a new park for the local community in November 2014. Those working on Manor Royal Business District and the general public now use the park for informal meetings, relaxation and exercise. A new partnership between the BID and Sussex Wildlife Trust also opens up a wealth of volunteering opportunities.
The new People's Park, which links Fleming Way with Manor Royal, boasts a boardwalk, decking area, cycle paths, seating and picnic benches, providing plenty of space to think, work and play. Additional landscaping and a ‘wildlife partnership' means that the ecological value of the site will be enhanced on an ongoing basis.
Testimonials
"Improving the attractiveness of Manor Royal as a place to work and a lack of facilities were among the top issues identified by businesses and were therefore included in our Business Plan for action. This outdoor space engenders a sense of wellbeing among those working at Manor Royal Business District and provides opportunities for volunteering, team building and cross-company interaction."
Trevor Williams, Chairman of the BID, Site Director of Thales
"Apart from being the lungs of the Manor Royal Business Park and helping to absorb pollution from local transport, the People's Park provides an invaluable social amenity for workers on, and visitors to, Manor Royal. My daily walk to the bank is now enhanced by a return trip via the park to clear my mind and raise my spirits."
Keith Pordum, Vice Chairman of Manor Royal BID, Managing Director, Bon Appetit
"Green spaces like this are a much-needed improvement to the wellbeing of the thousands of people working in the area as well as the wildlife that calls it home, and it is particularly good to see further support for people that wish to travel sustainably by walking and cycling on Manor Royal."
Councillor Peter Smith, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development at Crawley Borough Council
"We are delighted that our grant helped create this wonderful space for Manor Royal. We think the People's Park is an environment that will help people relax and recharge and will prove to be a positive asset for the business district."
West Sussex County Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, Michael Brown
"It has been incredibly gratifying for us, as designers, to see such a wide range of people using the park. Whether people are out on a lunchtime stroll, walking the dog, having lunch with friends or doing volunteer work, they seem to get a lot from being outdoors in nature.
Sion Thaysen, Allen Scott Architects
Awards and nominations
2016 - Landscape Institute - Highy Commended
2015 - British BIDs Proud Project - Award Winner in Place Management Small Location category
2015 - South East in Bloom Awards - Silver Award in the conservation area category
2014 - South East in Bloom Awards - Overall winner for the Business Improvement District category and Silver Award. The competition is the cornerstone of communities and districts across the region but is also part of the largest horticultural campaign in Europe.
