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SportsCrystal Palace National Sports Centre £130m revamp approved, adding 25,000-seat athletics arena
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Plans for a £130 million refurbishment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in south London have been approved. The project will renovate the 25,000-capacity athletics arena, making it the 12th largest stadium in London and the second largest track and field venue after the London Stadium. The refurbishment includes a revamped swimming and diving pool, a padel centre, 3x3 basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches, and a full-size artificial multi-sports pitch. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and local MP Liam Conlon praised the project as a major investment for the area, aiming to revive the historic site as a hub for athletics and community sports. The stadium previously hosted World Athletics Tour and Diamond League events, with world records set by athletes like Sebastian Coe and Usain Bolt.
Source report
Plans for Major South London Stadium Refurbishment Approved
Plans for the £130 million refurbishment of a major 25,000-capacity south London stadium in Crystal Palace have been given the green light.
The planning application for the renovation of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre has been approved. The refurbishment will feature:
- A revamped swimming and diving pool
- A padel centre
- 3×3 basketball courts
- Five-a-side football pitches
- A full-size artificial multi-sports pitch
"This historic and much-loved national sports facility has created so many UK sporting stars," said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. "But it needs major investment and refurbishment and I am committed to delivering this."
A full 25,000-seat revamp of the athletics arena would make it the 12th biggest stadium in London and the second largest track and field arena after West Ham United's London Stadium.
It would join other London venues of a similar size in being operational south of the river, with Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park – soon to be revamped itself – sitting at 26,000 capacity and Millwall's Den at 20,000.
There had been reports that WSL side London City Lionesses could relocate to the stadium.
Crystal Palace Homecoming
Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge, said: "This is a major milestone and a massive moment for South London.
"Crystal Palace was once known as the spiritual home of UK Athletics, but the site has become increasingly run down, with the pools closed for years and the stadium looking tired.
"This once-in-a-generation project will deliver a revitalised centre, providing opportunities for local people in our area, and inspiring the next generation of Team GB Olympians and Paralympians."
The track used to host the World Athletics Tour and Diamond League before the Olympics, with a number of world records set there by athletes including Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, and Elena Isinbaeva – who became the first woman to clear a pole vault height of over five metres. Usain Bolt and Haile Gebrselassie also graced the surface.
Source
City AMWestern
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Crystal Palace National Sports Centre £130m revamp approved with 25,000 seats