A new ‘pocket park’ with plants, benches and play equipment will open in South London.
Wandsworth Council has approved £400,000 plans to turn a disused nursery site in Earlsfield into the park, after the idea was put forward in a petition signed by 279 residents last year.
Brocklebank Nursery on Swaffield Road, which shut in 2020, will be knocked down to make way for the park. A path will connect its two public entrances, while it will have new plants, play equipment, bird and bat boxes, benches, bins and signs. Dogs will be allowed in the park, except for the play area.
The council’s Planning Committee approved the scheme on Tuesday (May 20). Elen Richards, Team Leader for Planning and Transport, said: “It really is meant to be a local facility – more like a doorstep play facility, really, where parents would probably take their children before or after school, before dinner and on the weekends, and also for older people to go and enjoy a bit of peace – perhaps when the children aren’t there.”
The council investigated the possibility of replacing the old nursery with a park after Labour councillor Denise Paul presented a petition from residents of Swaffield Road at a meeting in March 2024.
The petition, signed by 279 residents, requested the creation of a children’s playground on the site for families to enjoy.
The authority finalised the design of the park after consulting with residents on what they would like it to include. It has set aside a budget of £400,000 to create the park.
Application documents added: “This will create a place that enhances health and wellbeing of the local community and provides doorstep play. The proposed new pocket park here would have entrance gates on self closers at both public entrances, would protect and include the mature trees, and would include surfaces that aid sustainable drainage. Secure access to the residential properties surrounding the park will be retained.”
The park will be managed by the council’s grounds maintenance contractor.
