Future of Crystal Palace athletics stadium in doubt despite rescue plans

The future of one of the world’s most iconic athletics stadiums is in doubt despite the Mayor of London’s plans for a “comprehensive renovation” of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

A 19,000 capacity venue that hosted the London Grand Prix for more than a decade before athletics events in the capital were switched to the new Olympic stadium in 2012, Crystal Palace athletics stadium has since fallen into disrepair and had to be temporarily closed in November when it was discovered that the concrete pillars that held up the floodlights were unsafe. They have since been removed, with local athletes who now use the stadium only able to train during daylight hours.

Meanwhile, the Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving pool that were formerly a vital facility for elite athletes in the area and beyond have remained closed since March 2020 despite Sadiq Khan’s promise in November 2021 that he would “urgently contract a firm to plan and carry out the necessary renovation works, with the goal of maximising the time the pools are available for use”.

While work has still yet to begin on the pools, plans to redevelop the site in south London for a total cost of up to £219m were approved by the Mayor in December, with the decision to “upgrade and consolidate” the Grade 2 listed main building that houses the sports centre and pools – which opened in 1964 – taken because it is a “national asset” and would secure the site’s future “for decades to come”. However, it is understood that there are major concerns whether the stadium will be part of those plans after being neglected for so many years.

“I think the aspiration behind closed doors is to make it a track in the park, which would signal the end of top-class athletics