Plans to refurbish and enhance the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace, a critical move for bringing tournaments like the diamond league back to Crystal Palace, have been granted planning permission following a unanimous vote at Bromley Council’s Development Control Committee.
The proposals will see the existing swimming pool building demolished, along with Lodge Tower and Lower buildings. The closed diving pool and 50m swimming pool will return in the aquatics hall, with wet changing facilities located in one space and on one level for the first time. The learner pool will be expanded to re-provide a 25m swimming pool, with an improvement and enhancement of indoor and outdoor sports facilities and provision of a replacement energy centre.
The proposals will also see refurbishment of the main building and refurbishment and external works to the Athletics Stadium, with additional seating. The work will also include the erection of a new accessible walkway and improvements to public routes, access, parking and landscaping.
The National Sports Centre was once the home of UK Atheltics has hosted a number of international tournaments, but that the sport moved eatwards after the new Olympic stadium was built in East London. Conservative London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, Thomas Turrell, and his predecessors, campaigned to secure the investment to restore the stadium.
Thomas said:
“This ambitious and massive investment into the National Sports Centre is fantastic. The £130 million projects will mean the stadium can once again host big international competitions, it ensures that site has a huge range of activities for the local community and means we can train the next generation of Team GB athletes here in Bromley. It is great news not just for Bromley but all of South London.”
