Wray Crescent
We are on a mission to create a greener, healthier Islington. As part of this, we want to make some improvements to Wray Crescent Open Space.
We are planning to replace the derelict pavilion with a building which will better support community events and provide much needed facilities for park users.
We are also planning to make improvements to the wider park. Further information on these proposals will be available on Let’s Talk Islington in early July.
The new building will be a community hub which will provide a space for community events including a kitchen with servery hatch, as well as accessible toilets with baby change facilities. The building will continue to support cricket and other sporting activities.
The current designs reflect the extensive feedback, thoughts and ideas of the local community. You can read the summary report of this consultation in PDF format under the section ‘useful documents’ below, and see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) in the drop-down list at the bottom of this page which may help answer any additional queries.
The current design includes:
• A central community room with accessible toilet and storage
• Accessible toilets, accessed from outside of the building
• Improved landscape around the building
• Kitchen servery accessed from side of the building
• Changing rooms separated out from the main community room
• Officials changing room and office separated out from the community room
What has happened so far?
The project went on hold in 2022 due to a lack of funding, however the Parks team managed to secure the required additional capital funding in 2023. This funding in addition to the award from the London Marathon Trust and the Carbon Off-Set Fund meant the project could finally progress.
A design team has been appointed to progress the project, using the valuable feedback and ideas provided during the consultation and engagement stage of this project.
What happens next?
We are inviting local people to tell us what improvements they would like to see at Wray Crescent Open Space. This consultation will open in early July, there will be a dedicated page on Let's Talk Islington and we will update this page when the consultation is live.
The planning application (reference P2024/0369) for the community building was submitted in February 2024, and we are expecting the outcome by the end of July 2024.
This included a statutory consultation period where local people had further opportunity to comment on the proposals.
We are excited to progress with this project and our current proposed timeline is as follows:
• Summer 2024: Planning decision
• Autumn 2024: Go out to tender for building contractor
• Spring 2025: Start on site
• Autumn 2025: Completion of project
For any further queries on this project please email wraycrescentparkbuilding@islington.gov.uk
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
About the design
How big is the community room and how many people will the community room be able to accommodate?
The current design has the community room at 65.3 m2 and will accommodate 30 people.
How big is the footprint of the proposed building?
Approximately 220m2 – the same footprint as the previous building.
Will there be publicly accessible WC’s from the outside of the building?
Yes, the revised design now includes access to WC’s from the outside of the building.
Will the office be separated from the community room?
Yes, as part of the consultation feedback there were a lot of requests to separate out the access to the office. We have now moved the office to the outside of the left side of the building and it will have its own entryway.
What will happen to the fenced compound area at the back of the building?
The compound area is owned by the Council and is primarily used by the grounds maintenance team for storage. This compound will remain and a new gated entrance will be part of the works.
Will there be baby changing facilities?
Yes, the WC’s will have baby change facilities.
Can you include a café in the plans?
A café would require considerably more funding to fit out and make operational and is not part of the scope of this project. A café would also need a different type of planning permission to make this a viable option. We have amended the design to add a servery hatch to the front of the building which is connected to the kitchen and will create the opportunity for a community café to be developed in the future.
Does the building have sustainable and green features?
We were awarded funding from the Council’s carbon offset fund to install a green roof on the building as well as an air source heat pump, which is a renewable source of heat for the building.
Will there be CCTV?
No, there will be no security cameras as this would significantly add to the costs of the project and ongoing running costs of the building.
About the project
Why does the Council have to provide cricket facilities?
The Council’s Local Planning Policy DM6.4 Sport and recreation Point C. states: Developments that would result in the loss of existing public sport and recreation facilities(21) will be refused planning permission unless: i) the same type(s) of facility are re-provided; ii) new facilities meet identified need; iii) replacement facilities are appropriately and accessibly located; iv) the quality of provision is enhanced; and v) the quantity of provision is maintained, with local population increase provided for. As we have an existing cricket facility, the above policy requires us to re-provide and enhance the facility or risk having planning permission refused.
Where is the funding from?
The building project is funded from the London Marathon Trust, Sport England, S106 developer contributions (contributions from developers aimed at providing infrastructure to support and mitigate the impact of development), and the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). In addition, Islington Council’s carbon off-set fund will fund the green roof and renewable heat source for the building.
What is the cost of the building?
The current total project cost estimate is £1,400,000. This includes all surveys, consultancy fees, demolition and construction.
What happens to the project if it does not get planning permission?
If we did not receive planning permission, we would have to stop the project as planning permission is required in order to carry out works of this scale in a park. We would try to address the reasons for planning permission being refused and then resubmit the application.
Cricket and other sports
What are the timings for cricket?
The cricket pitch is open for bookings from: 1 April – 31 October, 1pm – dusk.
Can sports organisations other than cricket use the building?
Yes, the building is intended to support other sports and activities, not just cricket. Between April and October bookings will be prioritised for cricket but other bookings will be taken where there is availability.
Why can’t cricket be moved to a bigger site like Caledonian Park?
Caledonian Park is not a practical park to locate a cricket pitch in due to the layout and the fact it also houses a grade 2 listed clock tower which could not be put at risk from ball strikes.
Are there women’s and girls’ cricket teams?
There are currently no women’s or girls’ cricket teams in the borough but the junior development program is encouraging more girls to play the sport and we hope in the future this will lead to more formal girls’ and women’s teams forming.
Will football matches be able to continue on site?
Yes, football matches will be able to continue on site and will have access to the changing rooms.
How much will cricket use on site increase as a result of this proposal?
We are not increasing the amount of cricket booking times available as a result of the development. We do expect to see an increase in the amount of junior cricket played on the site as part of the cricket development program.
Why hasn’t the Council asked residents if they want cricket to continue on site?
The public engagement was about the design of the new building and how it can be used by the community. As the Wray Crescent cricket pitch is the borough’s only publicly accessible cricket facility, the council is committed to ensuring the facility remains available to support cricket development and matches in the borough.
Management of the building
Will the public be able to access the community room when a cricket match is on?
Potentially. Should the cricket booking require use of the community room then access may be limited on those occasions. The same principle will be applied when the room is needed for other sporting or community events taking place in the park. Where those bookings do not require the use of the community room, it will be made available for other bookings.
Can we hire the community room for private functions?
Yes, it will be available for private functions that are in line with our planning permission.
Who will manage the building?
The Parks Service will be responsible for the management of the building.
What kind of access will schools have to the building?
Schools will be welcome to use the building.
When will the building be open?
We are seeking planning permission to have the building used between 8am-9pm seven days a week. The building will be open to the public when the Park Keeper is on site.
Will there be Wi-Fi?
Yes, the building will have public Wi-Fi. Will there be a notice board to tell people when the building is in use? We are planning to provide a noticeboard that will post the weekly schedule for the park and the timings for when the building will be occupied or in use. Open space/park management
Will there be planting and more landscaping around the new building?
Yes. Ward Councillors have agreed to fund landscape improvements around the building and across the park. We will speak to local stakeholders including the Friends of Wray Crescent to agree these proposals.
How will the anti-social behaviour (ASB) and security issues be dealt with in this proposal?
The ASB on site is well documented and many residents and community members have made their concerns known during the development of this project. We have added an additional enclosed fencing area to the right side of the building which will store garden tools and sports related items such as the cricket poles and football goals. This enclosed area will make this side of the building much safer and discourage any ASB that used to take place in this area. We will be adding security features to the building to protect from break-ins or vandalism. The new building will make an immediate improvement to the visual appeal of the space and will encourage more people to visit Wray Crescent which will also deter anti-social behaviour and make it a much more pleasant setting.
Will there be a reduction in green space if this proposal goes ahead?
There will be no reduction in green space. The building is being constructed on the same footprint and will not reduce the amount of green space in the park.
