‘An exciting milestone’: Long-awaited Sehurst Park plans given the green light by Croydon council
The long-anticipated redevelopment of Crystal Palace’s main stand was given the green light by Croydon council on Friday, paving the way for a transformation of the stadium.
The plans for the Selhurst Park stadium were first submitted in 2018, but it was delayed by the Covid pandemic and the submission of minor adjustments to the scheme to adhere to new London Plan requirements.
Crystal Palace Football Club Chairman, Steve Parish, said: “Being granted formal planning permission is yet another positive and exciting milestone in this project.
“We are making excellent progress on the programme and have committed significant resources to complete the detailed design of the stand and have commenced enabling works this summer.”
The chairman said final plans and costings are set to be completed in the “near future” before a final construction partner is appointed.
The Main Stand development will overhaul Selhurst Park, which has been the club’s home since 1924.
The design pays homage to the original Crystal Palace in Sydenham Hill and will increase capacity from 26,000 to more than 34,000.
The new building will have three tiers of seating, as well as improved access for supporters with disabilities, a new club shop, museum and café for visitors to Croydon’s Premier League club.
The new facilities will be available for use by community organisations and the Palace for Life Foundation. As part of the expansion, the club has also committed to the future regeneration of the area, improvements to the public realm, and measures to improve pedestrian safety near the stadium.
As part of the plans, council flats in Wooderson Close which backs onto the ground’s main entrance, will be demolished.
The club was required to relocate all households affected by the redevelopment and compensate the council for the loss of rent. This formed part of the Section 106 requirement, which was signed by the club in April this year.
Affected tenants have now been rehoused, a spokesman from Croydon council confirmed.
Les Parry, former Wooderson Close resident and Vice Chair of Croydon’s Tenant and Leaseholder Panel, said: “May I praise the partnership working undertaken by the council and Football Club.
“Over the last year they worked hard, not only in keeping residents informed, but also in listening and responding to our needs and requirements.
“They have demonstrated that they were willing to put the people most affected by the stadium’s expansion first.”
Provisions have also been agreed by the club to make sure the development does not impact the borough’s affordable housing supply.
Mr Parish said: “I thank residents of Wooderson Close for their understanding and co-operation throughout the process of being rehoused. I would also like to thank counterparts at Croydon council, the Mayor of London and the GLA, for their continued support of this project.”
When initially proposed the cost of the redevelopment was planned to not exceed £100million, but the Covid pandemic and inflationary pressures have meant that costs have risen to around £150million.
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon council, said: “We are delighted that the stadium plans for Croydon’s premier league Football Club have the go-ahead.
“The new stand represents a significant investment in Croydon and I look forward to seeing the transformation of the stadium for residents to enjoy.”
Pictured top: CGI of the new stadium at Selhurst Park which has been given planning permission by Croydon council (Picture: Croydon council)