Crystal Palace ‘fully committed’ to Selhurst Park redevelopment

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says their board are “fully committed” to Crystal Palace’s redevelopment of Selhurst Park.

The Eagles announced plans in December 2017 to build a new Main Stand that that would boost the overall capacity of the stadium to 40,000.

And the delay means that Palace will need to submit a fresh  planning application – four years after the project got the green light – due to changes to the planning policy in the London Plan.

Parish, who spearheaded the CPFC 2010 consortium that brought the club out of administration and acquired the freehold to Selhurst Park, said: “With all the upheaval and uncertainty brought about by Covid, we have focused on the academy as well as first-team training ground developments.

“The final wing of the academy will open early 2023 and it will take the whole facility to extraordinary new levels. It includes a huge medical rehab gym and swimming pool complex that will enable us to give the very best physical and medical care to all our players.

“The first-team training ground is currently under refurbishment to mirror the look feel and standard of the academy restaurant, dressing rooms and office space.

“Collectively, the academy and first-team training ground amasses over 50 acres right in the heart of South London providing all the necessary tools for the club to progress to the next level.

“The decision was taken to get this area right and now the focus moves back to the stadium.

“This is the single biggest project that the football club will have undertaken and the learnings we have from the academy and first-team practice facilities will be invaluable.

“The Selhurst Park redevelopment will exceed £100m of investment and I’m sure supporters can appreciate the scale, complexity and enormity of this project. But it is something we are absolutely committed to.

“I’d like to thank Croydon Council for their continued support in enabling us to update the application since the resolution to grant planning permission was issued. We very much hope to make significant progress in the coming months, and will keep supporters and stakeholders updated as and when we have more news.”