Plans for Crystal Palace National Sports Centre revamp set for approval

Plans to transform and regenerate the world-leading Crystal Palace National Sports Centre are set to be approved by Bromley Council.

The scheme include a revamp of the athletics stadium, indoor arena, and swimming and diving facilities.

The project - spearheaded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London's mayor Sir Sadiq Khan - is to be discussed by Bromley Council on Thursday, where planning officers have recommended it for approval.

Supporters have praised the sporting opportunities the new centre will bring to south London, while objectors are concerned certain sports could be disadvantaged under the new plans.

Bromley planners said the proposal would "significantly enhance the quality of the existing sports provision and improve the experience of users across both the borough and London".

The planning application has received hundreds of responses from Bromley residents; 390 people wrote in to support the project, while the proposal also garnered 406 objections.

Supporters have welcomed the chance to bring the dilapidated complex back to life, with one describing it as "the beating heart of Crystal Palace, much loved and used".

Others felt the centre's revival would reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area by increasing sporting opportunities.

Several sporting bodies have also thrown their support behind the project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

England Athletics said the project would "secure the long-term future of the site and allow it to serve as a modern, inclusive, and sustainable centre for athletics".

Volleyball England "strongly supports" the regeneration, it said.

Divers have said are keen to see the diving pools brought back into use and and water polo and underwater hockey players are hopeful the 50m pool could host matches and tournaments.

Sport England said there was "overwhelming support" for the plans.

A spokesperson said: "The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is tired and dated, and in desperate need of investment and modernisation in order to make it inclusive and accessible to all sections of the local community and to bring it into the 21st century, as well as to set in sound financial footing for the future."

However, England Hockey and the Football Foundation have objected to the plans as they think the proposed shared multi-sport artificial grass pitch would not be sufficient for the demand that both hockey and football have.

The organisations are also concerned about the loss of an artificial pitch at the centre.

The indoor climbing community has voiced several concerns about the provision for a climbing wall within the new sports centre - which is to be moved to the current 5-a-side building.

Bromley planning officers argued that the space set aside for the climbing facility was nearly three times the size of the current one.

The proposal would mean some parts of the motorsport track are built on, something objectors say "prevents its use in the future and prevents people walking the historic track".

Bromley planning officers said the entirety of the racing circuit would be retained and remain "clearly recognisable" despite the changes.

Only some sections of Stadium Straight would be narrowed to enable the inclusion of additional outdoor sporting and recreational facilities, such as 5-a-side football and 3v3 basketball.