Tanyard Meadows Town Park

We’re planning a new community park at Tanyard Meadows, offering space for sport, play, relaxation and nature. The final layout will be shaped through design work and public engagement, but the vision includes a wide range of facilities.

Outdoor sports and exercise

• Grass football pitches for ages under 8 - 16
• A junior non‑turf cricket pitch
• A multi‑use games area (MUGA)
• A tennis or pickleball court
• An outdoor gym and trim trail
• A modern pavilion with toilets and dry changing rooms

These facilities will support grassroots sport, helping local clubs and families enjoy high‑quality outdoor spaces.

Inclusive play area

• Designed for all ages and abilities: facilities for under 5s, 5–11s and over 12s
• Features active play equipment and natural play elements
• Aiming for Plan Inclusive Play Area (PiPA) standards

Youth facilities and informal spaces

• Youth‑friendly features such as skate or parkour areas, fitness trails or a rebound wall
• Open grass areas for informal play, relaxing and socialising
• Attractive paths, seating and landscaping

This will be a place where young people can meet, be active and enjoy time outdoors.

Protecting the river environment

The Burstow Stream and its floodplain are vital ecological assets. Development of the new park will:

• preserve tranquillity and biodiversity
• balance active recreation with nature conservation
• improve access to natural spaces and the river environment.

Flood resilience

Although the site lies within Flood Zones 2 and 3, outdoor sport and play are suitable uses for these areas.

The design will include:

• sustainable drainage features such as swales and retention ponds
• widened drainage channels
• permeable surfaces
• a comprehensive Flood Risk Assessment to guide the designs

These measures will help the park remain safe, attractive and functional throughout the year.

No 3G / Astroturf pitch is planned

A 3G or astroturf pitch is not suitable for this natural, open‑access park. These facilities require fencing, controlled access and specialist maintenance, which doesn't match with the vision for a welcoming, desiganted open space.

There are also practical challenges:

• the floodplain location
• high installation and lifecycle costs
• greater vulnerability to damage in an open environment

Local 3G needs have been mitigated with the new facilities delivered at Oakwood School (opened 2024) and the planned 3G pitch at Merstham Park School (planning secured 2025). The council will continue to work with partners to facilitate the delivery and improvement of provision in the borough.

Parking and access

Parking will be planned with Surrey County Council and will consider:

• on‑site parking levels
• Blue Badge spaces
• coach and minibus access
• EV charging
• walking, cycling and public transport links

This ensures the park is accessible and easy to reach for all users.

Pavilion design

The pavilion will be a modern, welcoming hub for grassroots sport. Its design has been shaped with input from local clubs, Surrey FA and the Cricket Board, and will be refined through public engagement.

It will provide toilets and dry changing rooms.

To manage costs, the pavilion will not include showers, additional rooms, a kitchen or rental spaces. Following engagement with local clubs and sports groups, showers are not required for youth grassroots sport, where players arrive ready to play.

Accessibility and travel

The park will be well connected through sustainable travel routes, including:

• National Cycle Route 21, linking the Acres to the Riverside path
• Fastway 20, connecting the Acres to Langshott, Horley town centre, the station and Gatwick

Inclusive design features will include:

• all‑weather, gently graded paths
• regular seating for rest points
• play areas designed to achieve PiPA accreditation
• contrasting materials and textures to support people with visual impairment