Planning approval has been granted for the redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (CPNSC), marking a major milestone in securing the long‑term future of one of the UK’s most significant sporting venues.
The decision allows the project to move forward to the next phase, creating a modern, accessible and sustainable sports centre while protecting the site’s historic legacy and national importance. Work is expected to start on site in late 2026.
Originally opened in 1964, the renovation will bring the 15-hectare site up to a modern standard while showcasing its heritage and historic features. The project will see the centre’s facilities enhanced to support sports from the grassroots up to elite level while setting a new standard for inclusivity through accessible design upgrades and delivering extensive sustainability improvements to decarbonise the venue.
The renovation plans gained the public backing of more than 15 national governing sports bodies and clubs as well as local authority leaders and Historic England, which praised the proposal for making the centre ‘fit for the future’.
The comprehensive refurbishment project has been procured using the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), with Morgan Sindall Construction appointed as the main contractor. Key aspects of the approved plans include:
- A full refurbishment that will improve accessibility and create a centre for everyone with an enlarged gym featuring double the number of stations and new dedicated spaces for sporting clubs
- The diving pool and 50m swimming pool will return to the aquatics hall, providing shallow water, 25m swimming, 50m swimming, and diving all in one space
- The creation of an outdoor Padel centre, 3x3 basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches and a full-size multi-sports pitch
- Substantial accessibility improvements across the whole site, including enhanced lighting and wayfinding and a new step-free route between the Penge and Crystal Palace sides of the park
- Internal environmental issues will be addressed; a new glazed screen will separate the wet and dry areas to reduce noise and humidity, and an upgraded heating strategy will significantly reduce energy demand
- An improved indoor sports zone including an indoor 100m track, specialist weightlifting facility, and climbing centre
- A new community space for sports, leisure, and play, combined with a café, 200m running track, a 3x3 basketball court, and an outdoor gym. These facilities will be free to access and open to the public
- A refurbished and re-developed stadium is also planned, including accessibility seating for the first time in its history. The Mayor continues to seek partners and funders to bring forward this exciting element of the overall redevelopment proposals.
Sustainability is central to the project, with the new design targeting a 98% reduction in carbon emissions. This target will be achieved through a ‘fabric first’ approach, upgrading the existing building fabric to be more energy efficient, and through sustainable construction choices such as adding photovoltaic panels (PV) to the centre’s roof and using air source heat pumps for heating and cooling.
Providing opportunities for South London’s young people through upskilling and training schemes with Morgan Sindall is a central aspect of the development. Even though the proposals have only just been approved, the project has already delivered an extensive range of social value activities.
This has included eight community projects and an investment of over £56,000 from Morgan Sindall’s ‘Just Transition’ fund into the local community through initiatives such as the Future Palace programme. Led by Beyond the Box CIC, and delivered with Morgan Sindall and key project partners, this programme gave 20 young people the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the redevelopment. Participants were paid the London Living Wage and took part in detailed workshops over four months, informing key decisions with lived experience and giving their final presentation at London’s City Hall.
In addition, the Morgan Sindall team has to date delivered:
- 72 education and employment events for schools and colleges in the surrounding five boroughs, including welcoming 34 Construction Youth Trust students for a three-day Building Future Skills programme
- Supported three T-Level students from London South East Colleges with 45-day industrial placements and seven T-Level students studying Digital Media at Southwark College with 70-hour placements
- Level 1 and Level 2 carpentry students at Croydon College took part in the two-week Big Build Challenge, in which they had to design and construct wooden planters
- 30 unpaid work experience placements and 21 paid placements, which included seven young people classified as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). During the Barnado’s Big Build, young people were given practical construction experience and in the week-long Serious About Youth (SAY) Construkt Programme NEET learners were introduced to careers in the construction sector
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that planning approval has been granted for this once-in-a-generation redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
“This historic and much-loved national sports facility has created so many UK sporting stars, but it needs major investment and refurbishment and I am committed to delivering this.
“We now look forward to starting the next phase of work alongside partners and the local community to create an outstanding sporting venue, as we work together to build a better London for everyone.”
Richard Dobson, Area Director for Morgan Sindall in London, said: “We can’t wait to start delivering the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre renovation now that planning has been approved, as we know this project is going to unlock incredible benefits for so many people in the South London area.
“The design for the revitalised centre is a real showcase for what can be achieved when ambitious, innovative planning for a sustainable sports centre is combined with considerate, insightful collaborations with the people, athletes, and stakeholders that are going to be most affected by this transformative development.
“I’m also incredibly proud of the social value work the team has already implemented, with a long list of training and upskilling opportunities provided for local schools and communities. This underlines the capacity for this project to change lives, and I can’t wait to see all the ways this momentum is going to be carried forward now that planning has been approved.”
Key members of the project working alongside the Mayor of London and Morgan Sindall include sports masterplan specialists WOO architects, part of the creative team behind both the London and Paris Olympics, the decarbonisation and sustainability experts Max Fordham, architects FaulknerBrowns, engineers and heritage conservation specialists Alan Baxter Associates, and Employers Agent and commercial advisors Currie & Brown.
