Blakedown Completes Improvement Works at Merstham Recreation Ground

Blakedown Landscapes is proud to announce the completion of a major £2.5m transformation at Merstham Recreation Ground in Redhill, delivered for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in close collaboration with landscape architects Turkington Martin.

Part of the Council’s wider commitment to enhancing community infrastructure and public green spaces, the project has redeveloped the park into a high-quality, inclusive and futureproofed space. Shaped by community priorities and consultation with local residents and schoolchildren, the design supports wellbeing, biodiversity and year-round community use.

The scheme creates a new community hub, with a pavilion housing a café kiosk, toilets and changing rooms, a fully accessible play area with PiPA Gold accreditation, outdoor gym, parkour course, and refurbished MUGA and tennis courts.

The wider site improvements include an upgraded footpath network, extensive new planting, and a sustainable drainage strategy incorporating swales and enhancements to the existing watercourse. These features help manage surface water on site and deliver measurable ecological value.

“We’re incredibly proud to have delivered this project alongside Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Turkington Martin,” said Chris Wellbelove, Managing Director of Blakedown Landscapes. “It’s been a genuinely collaborative process from design through to completion. The finished space is not only inclusive and engaging but also built to a high standard and designed to stand the test of time for the local community.” 

The project has been well received locally, with strong usage since completion and positive feedback from residents and stakeholders.

Cllr Kate Fairhurst, Executive Member for Place, Planning and Regulatory Services, said “It’s been great to see the local community enjoying their new-look Merstham Rec since it opened. Whether it’s to socialise, play, be active, to relax or simply connect with nature, the park is now a fantastic space with something for everyone. We’ve had lots of positive feedback since it opened.

“Blakedown Landscapes was good to work with on this project, including taking on board any changes and challenges that arose along the way, demonstrating their expertise and professionalism. Together, we have created a community asset for local people to enjoy well into the future."