Downshire Field
As the green heart of the Alton Estate, Downshire Field is undergoing a thoughtful transformation to enhance its beauty and functionality. The updates, part of the Alton Early Improvement Plan, respect the area’s heritage while addressing the needs of today’s residents.
Enhancing usability and biodiversity
The redevelopment aims to create a welcoming and versatile space for everyone in the community. Key improvements include:
- Natural play areas: A redesigned play zone integrated with the park’s natural surroundings, featuring wooden structures and informal pathways
- Accessible path networks: Step-free loops that make the field navigable for individuals of all mobility levels
- Comfortable rest areas: Additional seating and shaded spaces for relaxation
- Environmental improvements: Biodiversity-focused planting schemes that support wildlife and exceed environmental standards
Preserving historical significance
Downshire Field’s design honours its historical role as a Registered Park and Garden. The updated layout works to restore the original open grassland vistas while maintaining the picturesque charm of the mid-20th-century landscape.
Guided by community feedback
The redesign process has actively involved residents, ensuring their input shaped the final proposals. Suggestions for better lighting, safer paths, and more inclusive play areas have been incorporated to balance the field’s historical importance with contemporary needs.
A space for all seasons
The enhanced Downshire Field will serve as a haven for leisure, nature, and community interaction. Its thoughtful updates ensure it remains a beloved and functional space for generations to come.
Timeframe for development
The plans for enhancements to the landscaping and play facilities at Downshire Field received unanimous approval at the Planning Applications Committee on 20 June 2024. This marked a major first stage in the delivery of the Alton Renewal Plan.
Works commenced on site in November 2025 for the enhancement of Downshire Field. Our contractor, Elite, is carrying out the works in phases, with completion expected in late 2026.
What’s happening now
Existing play spaces have been removed to prepare the site for infrastructure installation.
In January 2026, specialist teams began installing attenuation tanks to Downshire Field, which form a key part of the site’s sustainable drainage system.
These tanks will help manage surface water and reduce the risk of flooding, making the site more resilient and climate conscious.
What’s coming next
Over the coming months, residents can expect to see the following key milestones:
- Installation of drainage and utilities infrastructure
- Landscaping works in Downshire Field, including the formation of new footpaths, planting beds, and community green space
- Construction of new inclusive play facilities, with modern, accessible equipment designed in response to local feedback from community groups and our Youth Advisory Panel