Croydon hires Mott MacDonald for cultural renovation

The London Borough of Croydon has appointed Mott MacDonald as the lead consultant on its cultural redevelopment project. The project will see the city’s cultural hub redeveloped as well as the build of a new pathway and several shops, business and residential spaces. The consulting firm will deliver the overall multidisciplinary design for the project, as well as offer a wide range of services.

Cultural redevelopment project
The cultural redevelopment project of the London Borough of Croydon has been set up by the City Council to transform the city’s cultural hub around Fairfield Halls and College Green. “We want it to be a mini South Bank, combining a fine cultural offer with an education area and a large open space which can be used for a variety of events, such as Christmas markets,” explains Timothy Godfrey, Councillor and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport.

The project opens the door to a 10-year build programme that will see the redevelopment of the College Green area of Croydon, including a full-scale renovation of the arts, entertainment and conference centre Fairfield Halls, and the creation of a new pedestrian route linking the site with East Croydon station. This new route will connect visitors with landmarks such as Queens Gardens, the Clocktower, Surrey Street and the Exchange Quarter. Also as part of the reinvigoration of the centre, several shops, restaurants, residential accommodation and community and business spaces will be created.

The Croydon City Council has hired consulting firm Mott MacDonald to deliver the overall design for the project’s planning application, which includes the environmental and transport assessments and the masterplan requirements, to be submitted by the autumn. In addition, the consulting firm will provide project management and cost consultancy services, acoustic and fire engineering, and building services.

Commenting on the project, Paul Bates, Project Director at Mott MacDonald, says: “This is a wonderful opportunity on so many levels. As a locally based company, the regeneration of Croydon’s cultural quarter is of huge significance to so many of us who live and work in the town. We also look forward to helping reinstate the Fairfield Halls as one of the most prestigious venues in the country.”