Wimbledon Hill Park, Merton

The old Atkinson Morley Hospital sat on a traditional residential street in Wimbledon. The site had previously been sold by the NHS to an offshore company that failed to implement the planning permission and did little to listen to the community.

Berkeley bought the land and began talking immediately with the residents and councillors to understand what might work. Today, the historic buildings have been restored and converted into new homes alongside other new family houses and apartments.

The surrounding 19 acre parkland has been opened up with new walking routes, while seating and artworks inspired by the site's rich history will feature in the forthcoming phase. And meanwhile, a new two-bedroom cottage has been built to provide a source of rental income to fund the upkeep of the park.

At the southern end of the site, Berkeley built a sports pavilion with a multi-use hall and catering facility. It sits beside three new grass pitches now being used by the Ursuline High School on weekdays and by local clubs at evenings and weekends. Berkeley also made a contribution to the neighbouring Scouts' Group which has been a valuable part of community life for generations.

Key Facts

• 19 acres
• 175 mixed tenure homes
• Sports pavilion with three new sports pitches and 19 acres of parkland
• Rental cottage to provide income for the upkeep of the Metropolitan Open Land
• Restoration and refurbishment of a locally listed building