Creating a park for Faversham to be proud of

Located in the heart of Faversham and already enjoyed on a daily basis by many in the local community, Faversham Recreation Ground is set to get even better.

Established over 150 years ago, the 20-acre site is one of Swale’s most significant heritage parks. Our project to restore historical features and improve facilities is part of the Parks for People improvement project.

Parks for People is a joint Heritage Fund and Big Lottery Fund programme which aims to protect and enhance historic parks, helping to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy these important public open spaces.

The Heritage Fund announced in July 2018 that the project had been awarded £1.6m for an ambitious, heritage-led, regeneration scheme of more than £1.9m that will restore many of the park’s historic features, and improvements to facilities.

The aim of the project at Faversham Recreation Ground is to ensure that this heritage is protected and that people have more opportunities to visit, understand and be involved with the park and learn about its history. Improvement works will create a park local people can be proud of whilst breathing new life into well used historic buildings. Improvements and activities include:

  • Refurbishment of listed features (including the former Gardeners Lodge and Loggias) as well as the main changing pavilion.
  • Restoration of original wrought iron gates and boundary fencing.
  • Reinstatement of areas of historical planting and paths.

Working with Swale Borough Council, the Heritage FundWynne-Williams Associates and Purcell, this project will make sure the park continues to be enjoyed for generations to come.

SECBE Awards feature Sunshine Café, Dreamland in blog

The Sunshine Cafe, Dreamland finalist in Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards

As part of the countdown to the Constructing Excellence Awards at the end of June, SECBE have featured our Sunshine Café project at Dreamland. Our project is a finalist in the Preservation & Rejuvenation category.

Delivered in partnership with Thanet District Council and Judge Architects, The Sunshine Cafe was our second phase of major redevelopment at Dreamland.  The amusement park continues to play an important part in Margate’s heritage following our previously completed programme of works to Dreamland’s Grade II listed buildings.

The Constructing Excellence Awards are unique in their recognition of outstanding built environment companies and projects that have delivered improvements in all-round performance through collaborative working and a real desire to make a difference.

You can read the post and find out more about how local staff with family connections to Dreamland have helped preserve this building for future generations here.

Further details of our work at Dreamland and the Sunshine Cafe can be found on our website.