New pictures revealing what the planned revamp of Croydon’s main town centre park could look like have been revealed.

More than 50 people from Croydon were involved in designing how The Queen’s Gardens could look.

But when initial plans went to Croydon Council’s planning committee on Thursday (August 16), councillors were keen to see a water feature included.

A revamp of the park, which is bordered by Katharine Street and Fell Road is part of the Taberner House development.

HUB and Grant Associates are building 513 new homes on the site where the council offices used to stand – with 40% set to be affordable.

Work started in May and is expected to be completed in 2021 and as well as a 35-storey tower, there will also be 21, 19 and 13-storey buildings constructed as part of the major development.

HUB managing director Steve Sanham said the company started speaking to people on the streets of Croydon about what they want to see in the gardens at the end of 2016.

Then, 50 people agreed to take part in workshops to help come up with designs. The group first met in March and met another three times this year.

Mr Sanham said: “It has been a really rewarding process.

“We started in in 2016 speaking to about 1,500 people before carrying out our first engagement sessions.

“We went to where people were rather than sitting in a room and waiting for them to come to us.

“It soon became really clear that people were concerned about the park – that this really important green space was revitalised by the development and the decision wasn’t made without them.”

The groups met on Saturdays with children and adults saying what they wanted to see in the gardens, from the cafe to the play area.

“I’m not sure these kind of workshops have ever been done before, it is not the type of thing developers do,” said Mr Sanham.

“I think it is important, especially when it comes to a public park, and it is something that we are trying to pioneer.”

Elizabeth Ash volunteered to be a part of the process and was impressed – She has taken part in public consultations in the borough before.

She said: “Anyone who wanted to get involved could – I think what HUB produced was genuine consultation.

“There was a range of ages and people with different interests.

“We had to make a commitment to come to the sessions but it was very very open. It was nice to have Steve Sanham there giving up his Saturdays to listen to residents.”

When initial plans went to the council’s planning committee on Thursday councillors were adamant they wanted to see a water feature included in the plans.

But Lise Bennigen from Grant Associates told them this was removed from the plans following concerns about the upkeep cost from the council.

She said: “The maintenance is going back to the council and the cost for the maintenance has been an important aspect of the pre-application and a concern of the council.

“We were asked to keep the maintenance costs the same as they are now or less, that is why the water was not carried through.”

Ms Bennigen added that she agreed “water features are are an asset to public”.

A handful of people who took part in the workshops watched the meeting from the public gallery.

And Ms Ash said she was pleased with the committee’s reception of the plans but found it frustrating to hear they also wanted to see a water feature.

She said: “One of the things that the residents really wanted was a water feature.

“HUB took it back to the council and were told it would cost too much.

“Then you’ve got councillors on both sides of the chamber saying there should be water – you can’t help but smile.

“It is a shame that we’ve been through the process now because [a water feature] could have been part of the plans that the groups did.

“But on the other side it is quite reassuring that the councillors were of the same view.”

Mr Sanham said HUB will now be putting offering to look after the maintenance of a water feature if it were included in the plans.

The final plans will be submitted in the coming weeks.