Bromley Council has approved plans for the comprehensive refurbishment and enhancement of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, a Grade II* listed building and a key heritage asset within the Grade II* listed Crystal Palace Park. The decision, made by the Development Control Committee on Thursday 23 July 2026, grants full planning permission and listed building consent for a project that aims to secure the long-term future of the iconic venue.
The extensive proposals include the demolition of the 25m Pool Building, Lodge Tower, and Lower Buildings. The main National Sports Centre building will undergo refurbishment, including external alterations, with the reprovision of an indoor 25m swimming pool, a new energy centre, and improvements to indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
The Athletics Stadium will also be refurbished, featuring a new accessible walkway and additional seating. The proposed capacity of the refurbished Athletics Stadium is 15,968 seats, an increase of 515 seats from the existing capacity of 15,453. This includes general admission, wheelchair, and companion seats across the West, North, South, and Jubilee Stands.
The 5-a-side building will be altered, and new external sports facilities, including a Sports Plaza, courts, and pitches, will be created. Ancillary works will improve public routes, access, parking, and landscaping.
Sport England has raised no objection to the plans, subject to conditions addressing the replacement hockey pitch, which will need to meet FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or equivalent certification. While England Hockey and the London Football Association/Kent Football Association/the Football Foundation have raised concerns about the proposed multi-sport pitch, Sport England believes planning conditions can address these issues. Specifically, Sport England notes that the applicants were advised to address or omit the multi-sport pitch as there is currently not a suitable surface available that meets the requirements of both football and hockey. However, the applicants have provided detailed drawings confirming the pitch sizes, which Sport England considers correct. Sport England recommends a planning condition to address the requirements of competitive hockey and, if a suitable dual surface is not available, football will still be able to use the artificial grass pitch for training. A condition requiring certification to meet FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or equivalent, and confirmation of registration on the Football Association's Register of Football Turf Pitches, is also recommended.
Historic England has offered its support, acknowledging that while some harm will occur to the listed building and its setting, it is outweighed by the significant public benefits and heritage enhancements. These benefits include the restoration and renewal of the Grade II* listed centre to a 21st-century sporting facility, addressing conservation challenges related to its unique construction, and enhancing its significance through decluttering and removal of detracting features. Historic England also highlights the heritage benefits of improved appreciation of the structural frame and internal volume, and the better revealing of key architectural features. External enhancements, such as the demolition of the 1975 pool extension, scoreboard, and Lodge Tower, are seen as offering improvements to the listed building's setting and the character of the registered park. Furthermore, the investment in the park and landscape is considered a significant step towards removing the registered park from the Heritage at Risk Register.
The demolition of the locally listed Lodge Tower and scoreboard, which are in poor condition, will allow for the land to be returned to open parkland, improving the setting of the National Sports Centre and the wider park.
The project aims to significantly enhance the quality of sports provision and improve user experience, making the facilities more inclusive and accessible. This includes the addition of new accessible walkways, ramps, wheelchair viewing platforms, and accessible toilets.
The refurbishment will also focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, with the installation of air source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels. While the proposal does not fully achieve net zero carbon emissions on-site, the significant on-site carbon reduction and a carbon offset payment will be secured.
The plans have been met with widespread support from local community groups, sports organisations, and residents, who highlight the venue's historical significance and the need for investment to restore it as a world-class facility. Objections were raised regarding the loss of indoor climbing facilities and the impact on motorsport heritage. Regarding climbing, the existing facility would be repurposed, with the proposed floor area increasing significantly from 128 sq.m to 621 sq.m, including a dedicated reception area. However, concerns were raised about the operational viability and independent access of the proposed facility. Objections concerning motorsport heritage noted that while the Stadium Straight would be retained, localized narrowing is proposed. The applicant is committed to celebrating the history of sport at Crystal Palace, and it is considered that the overall alignment and legibility of the Stadium Straight would be retained, with its role as a historic route remaining recognizable. The proposal is considered not to have an adverse impact upon the historic motor racing heritage. Officers concluded that these concerns were outweighed by the overall benefits of the scheme.
It is understood that £100 million is committed by the Greater London Authority to the delivery of this heritage-led conservation, renovation, and improvement work for the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
Further details of the committee's decisions can be found in the Decisions document. The full public reports pack is available here.
