Morgan Sindall submits plans for National Sports Centre overhaul
Morgan Sindall Construction has submitted plans to refurbish the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
The plans, sent to Bromley Council, cover the 15-hectare venue which opened in 1964 and sits within Crystal Palace Park.
The scheme – valued at £100m by data provider Glenigan – aims to modernise facilities while retaining historic features of the building.
Morgan Sindall was appointed last year by the Greater London Authority (GLA), via the Southern Construction Framework, to deliver the redevelopment of the Grade II*-listed sports complex in south London.
The contractor plans to make structural alterations to bring the 50-metre competition pool and diving pool back into use.
Works will also include upgraded changing facilities, a refurbished facade to improve energy efficiency and new lifts to improve accessibility across the building.
Public realm improvements are also proposed to strengthen pedestrian connections between the sports centre and the nearby railway station.
Morgan Sindall said it will now progress through a preconstruction phase while planning and listed building approvals are finalised.
Major construction work is expected to begin in 2026, with completion targeted for 2028.
According to planning documents submitted to Bromley Council, a separate application has been lodged to discharge a planning condition relating to archaeological monitoring on part of the site. The application relates to demolition works at the centre’s greenkeepers compound, located within the sports complex on Ledrington Road in Anerley.
The condition requires the submission of a written scheme of investigation for archaeological monitoring and recording during the demolition works. The scheme was prepared by Museum of London Archaeology.
The site lies within the Crystal Palace Park Conservation Area and a designated archaeological priority area linked to the historic Crystal Palace parkland.
Monitoring is required because buried remains associated with the 19th century park could potentially be disturbed during demolition works.
Elsewhere across the site, the redevelopment plans include upgrades to indoor sports areas, a larger gym and improved facilities for sports clubs.
The aquatics hall will be reconfigured so that shallow water, 25-metre swimming, 50-metre competition swimming and diving facilities can be accommodated within a single area.
External works include a six-court padel centre, 3×3 basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches and a full-size artificial multi-sports pitch.
The project team includes architect Faulkner Brown, sports masterplanning specialist WOO Architects, sustainability consultant Max Fordham and structural and heritage engineer Alan Baxter Associates.
The design aims to remove gas systems from the site and introduce low-carbon technologies including air source heat pumps and rooftop photovoltaic panels.
Source: Construction News, Morgan Sindall, Bromley Council planning documents; Image Sources: London City Hall
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