Biggest new London park since 2012 Olympics opens

The biggest new park to be created in the capital since the 2012 Olympics has opened, as part of the formation of a new village in south-west London.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan formally opened Springfield Park in Tooting, which is part of the new Springfield Village that an NHS trust has created around the redeveloped Springfield University Hospital.

The 32-acre park has a pavilion café, amphitheatre, fitness trail, play areas, ponds and 700 new trees. It has been opened in phases since 2023, with the full park now available for use.

Sir Sadiq was joined by Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg and local residents at the opening of the new space on Wednesday.

The park sits alongside two new mental health facilities in Springfield Village, which were opened in 2022 and 2023 as part of the £150m redevelopment of Springfield University Hospital.

A total of 1,288 homes are being built on the grounds, 33% of which are affordable housing, with construction expected to be completed in 2028. The new public square is also home to shops, cafés, a gym and care home.

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust's masterplan to replace derelict hospital buildings on the 92-acre site with world-class mental health facilities was approved in 2012.

The village has been designed to break down barriers and reduce stigma around mental illness by integrating the facilities with the new homes, shops and park, according to the trust.

Vanessa Ford, chief executive of South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, said the facilities were "already making a real difference" as the hospital had seen a 36% reduction in patient safety incidents since it opened, showing patients were receiving "safer, more effective healthcare".

"What we've done is we've created new homes where the residents have had mental health first aid training, alongside a park where people can come and be.

"We've got hope benches where people can sit and have meaningful conversations, and it's the natural knocking in of each other that you have that means that conversations and culture and stigma changes."

London's mayor said: "Springfield Park is a great new facility and a key part of the transformation at Springfield Hospital that is providing much-needed affordable homes and green spaces for local people.

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