Mott MacDonald is to be lead consultant on a project to regenerate Croydon’s cultural quarter.
The consultancy will provide the London Borough of Croydon with the overall multidisciplinary design for the project, with principal subconsultants Rick Mather and Turley providing architectural and planning services.
The project will deliver a new scheme for the College Green area of Croydon, including a full-scale refurbishment of the arts, entertainment and conference centre Fairfield Halls. It is intended to transform the building’s commercial capabilities, while being sympathetic to its original design and heritage. The refurbishment will include enhanced and enlarged foyer space with a frontage on College Green, a complete mechanical and electrical refit, improved disabled access and provision of new refreshment facilities. It will also improve the venue’s sound insulation, stage facilities and backstage access so that it can cater for larger and more diverse productions.
The wider development encompasses the entire city block and the scheme will provide a route to and from College Green and East Croydon rail station, connecting visitors with places including Queens Gardens, the Clocktower, Surrey Street and the Exchange Quarter. The scheme will include the provision of shops, restaurants, residential accommodation and community and business spaces.
Mott MacDonald will provide civil, structural, building services, acoustic and fire engineering together with project management and cost consultancy services on the project. The consultancy will develop a design for the scheme’s detailed planning application, which will include environmental and transport assessments as well as masterplan requirements.
Paul Bates, Mott MacDonald’s project director, said: “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.”