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Since opening in 1964, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre has played host to many a sports competition, from the Grand Prix to the first ever Women’s FA Cup final, and witnessed 19 world records being broken. But over the decades, the sports facilities started to get worn down and crumble. Now, it’s getting a ‘once-in-a-generation-makeover’.
There are four pools at the centre but the main 50m pool has been out of action 2020, after large cracks were found in its base. The plan to upgrade the site was announced by Sadiq Khan in 2023 after more than 40,000 people signed a petition urging him to help reopen the pool. This week, new concept images were unveiled showing exactly what the site could look like in a few years time.
The upgrades include a complete rebuild of the swimming pool’s structure and a revamp of the existing indoor facilities, external pitches and athletics stadium. Work is reportedly getting underway ‘immediately’, with completion expected by 2028. It’s complicated a little by the fact that the main 60-year-old building is Grade II-listed and therefore redevelopment has to follow certain heritage guidelines.
Some smaller works have already been carried out at the site, including the repair of the the athletics track, installation of temporary floodlighting, upgrades to the fitness gym and the addition of a new cafe and soft play area.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ‘Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is an historic and much-loved sporting and community facility where many UK sporting stars have started their careers and trained, but which needs major investment and refurbishment.
‘I am committed to this once-in-a-generation redevelopment of the site which will secure its future for decades to come.’
Take a look at what Crystal Palace National Sports Centre could turn into:
This major east London stadium will soon be ‘one of the world’s greenest sports and concert venues’.
London has been named the best city in the world for sports events.
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