Crystal Palace Football Club submit planning application for Main Stand redevelopment

Crystal Palace Football Club has submitted its planning application for the redevelopment of Selhurst Park’s Main Stand and is promising it will meet the costs of re-housing affected residents in Wooderson Close.

The development will be a major investment in the heart of Croydon, overhauling a stadium which has been the club’s home since 1924 and providing new year-round community facilities as well as transforming the match-day experience for supporters. Inspired by the club’s heritage and its roots in South London, the design pays homage to the original Crystal Palace on Sydenham Hill.

Under the proposals submitted to Croydon Council, six houses in Wooderson Close would be lost, five of which are owned by the local authority. Crystal Palace Football Club has promised to go beyond its statutory obligations and will work with Croydon Council to ensure all tenants affected are re-housed in equivalent properties in one of the surrounding wards. The club will pay the bill to re-house residents and associated costs, including the cost of moving. It is offering to meet affected residents individually to discuss any concerns.

In addition, six new family homes will be built, which means there would be no loss of housing in the borough as a result of the club’s plans, which would see the capacity at Selhurst Park increase from 26,000 to more than 34,000.

The club undertook a programme of consultation events and meetings with local stakeholders before submitting its application.

Guy Wickett, Crystal Palace development manager, said: “We have had excellent engagement on our proposals with more than 400 people coming to view the plans and hundreds more talking to us through the website, fan forums and on social media. Our feedback to date shows that more than 85 per cent of people within the local community support the principle of the redevelopment of the stand.

“We will continue to work with Croydon Council and the local community as the plans progress, addressing any concerns that residents in the immediate area might have. This is a development which will bring significant economic and community benefits to the entire area and is a mark of confidence in Croydon.”

The application has been lodged with Croydon Council, and the submitted documents will be available on its website in due course. These include reports on: Design & Access; Travel & Transport Assessment; Social & Economic Impact; Noise; Light; Daylight; Wind; Ecology; Archaeology; Energy; BREEAM Sustainability; Flood Risk; Geotechnical; Television & Radio; Security; and Community. A planning committee decision is expected in April 2018. Once validated, the application will be open for public consultation.

The project is likely to take up to three years to complete. The existing Main Stand will remain in full operational use throughout the build process, minimising the impact on the stadium capacity in the coming seasons.