Go-ahead for Main Stand redevelopment at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace fans can look forward to a transformed stadium experience after final approval of the planning application for a new Main Stand and enhanced facilities at Selhurst Park were given the green light by Croydon Council.

Croydon’s planning, housing and regeneration teams have been working with the Club on the redevelopment of the site, which will help to regenerate the Selhurst Park area and bring a welcome boost to the local economy.

Once completed, the glass-fronted Main Stand – reminiscent of the original Crystal Palace – will be a landmark building which will hold 13,500 fans, supporting its status as an established Premier League club.

The Main Stand was originally built 100 years ago and currently holds 5,200. The total capacity of Selhurst Park will rise from 25,486 to more than 34,000.

The new building will achieve high standards of sustainable design, including its operation achieving net zero carbon targets, in line with planning policy. It 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 local community organisations and the Palace for Life Foundation, and local employment and economic benefits are expected.

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As part of the expansion, commitments have also been made by Crystal Palace Football Club to the future regeneration of the area, improvements to public realm, and the introduction of measures to improve pedestrian safety near the stadium.

The plans for the Selhurst Park stadium revamp were first submitted in 2018, but experienced delays owing to the pandemic and the Club focusing on delivering its Academy upgrade.

The Club has been working with the Council throughout this time, as the Local Planning Authority, to submit revisions to the scheme in line with the latest planning requirements.

The Council and Club have been supporting the households in Wooderson Close, whose homes need to be demolished to make way for the stadium’s expansion.

Affected tenants have been rehoused by Croydon Council and have been helped with their house moves.

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, in not only in keeping residents informed, but also in listening and responding to our needs and requirements.

They have provided rehousing options and a tailored package of support measures for residents and our families that we are happy with. In doing so, they have demonstrated that they were willing to put the people most affected by the stadium’s expansion first.

The Club has signed a legal agreement to provide replacement homes and provisions have been agreed to make sure that the development doesn’t impact the borough’s affordable housing supply.

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said:

We are delighted that the stadium plans for Croydon’s premier league football club have the go-ahead and this exciting project can move forward. This is the outcome of continued work behind the scenes by the Council and Crystal Palace FC on getting the plans right for the football fans and the area and supporting the residents of Wooderson Close.

 The new stand represents a significant investment in Croydon and I look forward to seeing the transformation of the stadium for residents to enjoy.

Crystal Palace Football Club Chairman Steve Parish added:

Today’s announcement confirming that we have been 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 resource to complete the detailed design of the stand and have commenced enabling works this summer.

We aim to have final plans and costings in the very near future and at the end of that stage, we will appoint a final construction partner. The redevelopment of Selhurst Park will have a transformational impact on the future of our football club, and we are wholeheartedly committed to it.

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.

Source and Imagery Courtesy Croydon Council

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