Signal Park is conceived as the social heart of Tolworth Village, a welcoming public square that fuses urban life with a high-quality landscape. It is planned as a safe, inclusive and lively destination that encourages people to meet, play and unwind, while strengthening connections to the surrounding neighbourhood and the nearby rail station. The pocket park anchors the initial phase and sets the tone for future stages of the wider regeneration.
The landscape is deliberately adaptable, offering a variety of seating, shaded and sheltered spots, and an open zone that can host seasonal community occasions, from summer festivities and sports screenings to winter pop-ups. This flexibility ensures year-round relevance and supports a broad spectrum of ages and interests, enabling everyday use as well as curated events without compromising comfort or accessibility.
A digital-first approach underpins delivery, with comprehensive three-dimensional coordination across architecture, engineering and services. This allowed the team to refine the layout for inclusive movement, social interaction and climate resilience,
informing choices that shape a coherent, legible and welcoming public realm. The process aligned technical requirements with the experiential goals of the landscape.
Sustainability and placemaking are embedded throughout. The design supports low-carbon, resource-efficient and healthy living, integrating green infrastructure and active travel links to local streets and cycle routes. It focuses on preserving and enhancing the setting while preparing for changing climate conditions, framing a robust platform for community stewardship and long-term neighbourhood value.
Judges praised the scheme as playful, intimate and cleverly resolved, noting how a compact site feels larger through thoughtful sight lines and a rich sequence of spaces. They highlighted biodiverse planting, including a micro-forest ambition, varied seating, clear circulation and pedestrian-first character. The project was commended for transforming brownfield land, integrating sustainable drainage and creating a genuine community node with strong accessibility and inclusive design. One judge remarked: “Signal Park excels in creating an intimate, community-focused pocket park with strong design integration and inclusive principles.”
