Hampstead Heath's iconic Pergola faces a substantial £5.5 million repair bill, as detailed in a conservation management plan discussed by the City of London's Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee.
The Grade II-listed Pergola and its associated Grade II-registered Hill Garden are in need of significant investment to address a backlog of repairs estimated at £5.5 million. A plan prepared by Purcell Architecture Ltd outlines a long-term strategy for the site's conservation, management, and use, emphasizing its heritage importance and the risks it currently faces.
The proposed approach involves a phased implementation of works, with essential repairs and investigations prioritized. The overarching objective is to successfully remove the Pergola from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register.
The committee was presented with the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for approval, which will serve as the primary framework for the site's future management. This comprehensive plan details the site's history, current condition, identified risks, and potential opportunities, and establishes 66 policies to guide future decision-making.
The CMP confirms that certain sections of the Pergola are deteriorating to a degree where routine maintenance is no longer adequate. Substantial investment is therefore necessary to address the accumulated repairs, understand the root causes of the deterioration, and implement a structured preventative maintenance program.
Urgency and Risks
Failure to address the necessary repairs promptly could lead to the continued deterioration and eventual failure of the Pergola,
according to the Conservation Management Plan. The plan also highlights the risk of escalating reactive maintenance costs and further harm to the significance of the Grade II* -listed Pergola and registered landscape.
The inclusion of the Pergola on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 2025 underscores the urgency of moving towards a more strategic and sustainable approach to its upkeep.
Phased Repairs and Immediate Priorities
The plan outlines a phased approach to works, prioritizing essential repairs and investigations. The Action Plan
within the CMP designates Priority 1 Costs: Immediate: yr-2026
with an estimated cost of £373,548.00 for Essential
works. Immediate priorities include developing strategies and action plans for vegetation management, climbing plant support, planters, surface water drainage, and masonry and brickwork repair. A review of the Tree Safety Policy is also a key immediate action.
Root Causes of Deterioration
The principal causes of the Pergola's deterioration are identified as the interaction between planting and the structure, ineffective rainwater management, water penetration, and the natural weathering and decay of timber and masonry elements. These issues are interrelated and require coordinated investigation and repair. Structural decline has also been linked to inappropriate or undermanaged planting regimes.
Funding and Future Enhancements
The estimated cost for enabling and conservation works is approximately £5.5 million. This figure is itemized as £300,000 for CMP Action Plan enabling works, £1.7 million for cyclical, routine, and statutory compliance matters, and £3.5 million for repair works identified through the condition survey. The CMP does not include costs for potential future enhancements to the Pergola and Hill Garden.
Officers are collaborating to raise the required funds through a combination of internal bids and external funding. This is expected to be a long-term, phased process. Potential options being explored include a Capital Investment Bid from the City Corporation for FY '27/'28, utilizing available reserves, and launching a fundraising campaign.
Heritage at Risk Register
The Pergola was included in Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 2025 due to the scale of its deterioration and the need for a coordinated, funded, and sustainable programme of action. The long-term aim is to safeguard this nationally significant heritage asset and support its future as an accessible, resilient, and well-managed public place. The site will be reviewed periodically with Historic England to upgrade its listing on the register, with the ultimate goal of its removal.
Public reports pack 06th-Oct-2026 17.30 Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee.pdf