Barnard Park improvements

The layout of the park is changing considerably to allow the new 9v9 pitch and new level grass area for informal sport and leisure. The new community hub building and the change in alignment of the north-south central path also need to fit into the layout and create a park that is not dominated by the sports pitch and permits direct routes through the park.

The position of the pitch will allow people to move around the park and avoid creating pinch points at its corners. The positioning allows the design of the paths to remain wide enough for people to pass each other with enough space. We have investigated moving the pitch further to the east but it was determined that it would result in the lighting from the pitch being too close to residents on Barnsbury Road. Moving the pitch to the east would have also resulted in further trees being removed on that side.

We have had an Arboricultural Report produced including an Arboricultural Impact Assessment and it states that alternative design solutions would likely require additional tree removals and restrict the number of trees that could be viably planted to screen the sports pitch from the north.

Reluctantly, after many changes to the layout, it was decided that to provide a workable plan for the park some large trees need to be removed.   We intend to mitigate the loss of 13 trees by planting 51 carefully selected new trees which will increase the overall number of trees on site and increase the ecosystem services of the trees in the long term.

We commissioned an iTree report looking at trees on site, proposed removals, new trees, and forecasted comparative benefits to 2036 based on growth estimates. Many of the results were positive over a 15-year period and would improve further over a longer period. Findings include:

• Improved tree species diversity, population and resilience in the future. Ecology and sustainability improved with proposed trees.
• If existing trees are retained with growth projected it is forecasted that the pollutant removal in 2036 will be 58 kg; with our planned removals and new planting this is forecast to reach 62 kg per year.
• With projections of growth in 15 years, it was forecast that with the site unchanged, and the entire tree population surviving in good health, the value of carbon sequestration would be 1.9 tonnes; this reaches 2.1 tonnes under our plans should the proposed new trees grow at the expected rate.
• Projections on water interception and avoided run off to 2036 demonstrate that the development will potentially have a positive impact on the hydrology of the site.
• This development will impact on ecosystem services – however given suitable time to establish, and with continued maintenance undertaken it would be expected that ecosystem services will increase in the long term.

We will also be making the many other enhancements to the biodiversity on site as detailed previously.  

All Arboricultural and ecology reports including the iTree Report can be found under the section ‘Useful documents’. The arboricultural report was updated in November 2021 due to the changes we have made to the masterplan upon receiving residents’ feedback.

We are planning to close this small pedestrian entrance to the park as it has poor accessibility and poor sightlines into the park. Closing this entrance from the street will follow Secure by Design standards and look to reduce the potential for crime. Closing this entrance also allows for removing unnecessary paths and provides larger grass areas. The space inside the closed entrance will also feature more planting to enhance biodiversity. This entrance is also close to the main primary entrance to the park from Charlotte Terrace and this main entrance provides the link to walking routes through the park.

The improved Charlotte Terrace entrance will have a new footpath layout that connects to the new North-South footpath route and new entrance at Sheen Grove. The existing brick banding will be extended to unify steps and entrance area. The existing muddy grass at the entrance will be paved to create a generous events space.

The Hemingford Road entrance will be realigned to provide access that is better positioned near to the large street tree on the pavement along Hemingford Road. The new entrance will better align to the existing path through the avenue of lime trees. The path will link in the areas on either side with the addition of new seating, picnic tables, tree and shrub planting.

The plans for the new building will be finalised and form part of the planning application. The layout and design will be available to view as part of statutory consultation. Key user groups of the building have been part of extensive targeted engagement sessions on the design development of the building. A copy of the draft Barnard Park hub building management plan can be found under the section ‘Useful documents’.

A balanced programme of Free Play activities, targeted youth provision for local groups and some bookable paid slots has been developed to enable the site to respond to the immediate needs of the area. Islington Council’s leisure team liaised with a number of key strategic partners and various stakeholders that had either expressed an interest during the consultation period or were users of the facility. These consultation meetings resulted in the production of the following documents:

• Barnard Park 3G football pitch management plan
• Barnard Park 3G football pitch programme  

The above listed documents can be found on the Barnard Park Improvements webpage, under the section ‘Useful documents’.

The masterplan for Barnard Park provides for a nine-a-side football pitch. Initially, the improvements that the council proposed for Barnard Park involved the implementation of a smaller, seven-a-side pitch. However, stakeholders including Sport England objected to this on the basis that a larger pitch would be needed, and the planning application was therefore “called in” by the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Given the opposition from the wider community to an 11-a-side pitch, the council has moved forwards with proposals for a nine-a-side pitch. This has been agreed with Sport England and cannot be changed.

No changes are proposed to the existing play area in the park.  

Park Safety

Circulation and visibility is to be improved by removing the existing redgra pitch and surrounding fencing, opening up access for a new diagonal footpath connecting Hemingford Road entrance to the South West to Barnesbury Rd north entrance to the North East. By attracting more people to use this cross park route we will encourage better visibility and self policing.

Muddy paths are being replaced with accessible porous surfaced paths to the east, thus reducing the chance of slipping and falling. Encouraging more people to use this more accessible route will improve self policing.

The existing Boxworth Grove entrance is dark, with a steep path, and is poorly overlooked. The existing main North-South path between the toilet block and western fencing to the redgra is a tight space, with no escape route. Both these areas are being improved: Boxworth Grove entrance is being closed and replaced as the northern entrance with an open, visible and accessible new entrance onto Sheen Grove.

Copenhagen Street entrance is currently a narrow, tight space between the backs of adjacent new buildings with very little overlooking. A large Horse Chestnut tree stands beside the entrance, blocking views into the park from buildings to the south. There has been a history of anti social behaviour here and the entrance is not well used. This entrance is 20m from the main entrance and consequently it is proposed to close Copenhagen Street entrance.  

Lighting

Existing lamp column positions will be adjusted to relate to new footpath layout: the existing North-South path and East-West path are lit routes, and will continue to be lit. We are proposing closing the Boxworth Grove Northern entrance and opening Sheen Grove as the new northern entrance; consequently the new North-South lit route will be from Charlotte Terrace to Sheen Grove. Sports Pitch floodlighting will provide ambient lighting to the proposed diagonal path from Hemingford Road entrance to Barnesbury Rd north entrance. No additional lamp columns are proposed between Sheen Grove entrance and Barnesbury Rd north entrance.  

CCTV

The existing CCTV mast will remain at the entrance to Charlotte Terrace.