Wandsworth Council is preparing to approve a new Events in Parks Policy that will allow more events, more people, and more locations across the borough’s green spaces — with new rules to manage disruption and protect the environment.
It marks a significant shift in how events are managed across Wandsworth. Here are the details of what the changes are and what they mean.
More Events, Bigger Crowds, More Parks
The biggest change is that more events will now be allowed in more parks, and those events can involve larger numbers of people.
For the first time, the policy introduces clear attendance categories:
- Category A: Up to 2,499 people
- Category B: 2,500 to 4,999
- Category C: 5,000 to 10,000
Each eligible park will be allowed a maximum of six Category B event days and four Category C event days every six months. By contrast, the previous 2014 policy had no fixed numerical limits, relying instead on general wording about scale and frequency.
In practice, this opens the door to a greater number of medium and large events across parks that haven’t previously hosted them — provided they meet the new criteria.
The new policy also removes the blanket ban on winter events, allowing events on grass between October and March for the first time, so long as they are approved on a case-by-case basis. The ban was originally introduced to prevent damage to wet or vulnerable ground.
Parks Now Treated Differently — With Stricter Limits in Some Areas
Unlike the 2014 policy, which broadly applied the same approach to all sites, the new version introduces differentiated rules by location.
- Wandsworth Common will now be limited to Category A events only, in direct response to local concerns about overuse. This means no medium or large-scale events will be permitted there at all.
- Battersea Park is excluded from the policy entirely and will continue to operate under a separate events policy, which the council says will be reviewed later in 2025.
This is a major shift — the council is now formally recognising that not all parks are suited to the same level of activity.
New Limits on Noise, Closures and Environmental Impact
To balance the increase in event activity, the council is introducing a range of new restrictions and environmental safeguards.
Key changes include:
- New 10pm cut-off for all events, with no infrastructure removal allowed after that time unless specifically licensed. The 2014 policy had no set end time.
- Events can no longer take over an entire park — at least part of the space must remain open to the public. This was not previously required.
- Noise will be controlled using best-practice guidelines rather than fixed decibel levels. For the first time, small events are expected to be inaudible beyond the park boundary.
- Ecologically sensitive areas are protected — events are not allowed on or near designated conservation sites, with buffer zones set in consultation with council ecology officers.
Larger events (Category B and C) will now also require mandatory inspections before and after setup — involving biodiversity and tree officers — to check for potential damage.
New Expectations for Event Organisers
The policy also brings in stricter requirements for organisers, especially those putting on commercial or ticketed events.
From now on, organisers must:
- Provide real-time contact details for the public during large events
- Offer discounted tickets to residents who qualify for the council’s Access for All scheme
- Demonstrate how their event delivers social value, such as local benefits, volunteering opportunities or inclusive programming
- Actively work to reduce environmental harm, including cutting waste and emissions
- Respond to post-event feedback from residents and nearby businesses
The council will review its standard Terms and Conditions for event organisers every two years, with sustainability requirements baked in.
What’s Changed Since January?
The final version of the policy includes several changes made in response to public feedback on the draft published in January 2025:
- Large events banned from Wandsworth Common
- Officers must now minimise setup and takedown time for all events
- Tree and ecology officers must be involved in site inspections for larger events
- A 2014 clause has been reinstated to restrict the use of sports pitches for events
- Clarification that organisers still need to comply with planning, licensing and other legal permissions
- Certain officer decisions must now be made in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member
These updates reflect a mix of public concern — particularly around environmental impact, loss of access, and creeping commercialisation — and the council’s desire to allow a more ambitious, borough-wide events programme.
What It All Means
The new policy sets the stage for a busier calendar of public events in parks and commons across Wandsworth, particularly during the borough’s year as London Borough of Culture.
While it brings stronger protections and clearer rules, it also marks a shift away from the cautious approach of 2014 — enabling more activity, more footfall and a greater commercial presence in public green spaces.
How well the new safeguards work — and whether communities feel the benefits outweigh the disruption — will become clearer once the new rules are tested in practice.
