February 16 2018

How the new main stand would look from the outside (Photo: Official Palace website)

Crystal Palace have submitted a planning application to Croydon Council for the expansion of Selhurst Park.

The application is available online and states that the expansion will allow for an additional 8,225 spectators and 24,522sqm of floor space within the newly built stand.

Key features of the re-development are:

• An increase in capacity of Selhurst Park from 26,000 to more than 34,000, overhauling a stadium which has been the club’s home since 1924.
• Capacity in the new Main Stand alone will hold 13,500 fans, with more than 10,700 of these General Admission seats. Inspired by the club’s rich heritage and its roots in south London, the design pays homage to the original Crystal Palace on Sydenham Hill.
• Improved facilities for supporters with disabilities and a substantial increase in wheelchair spaces, making Selhurst Park compliant with Accessible Stadia Guidelines for New Stadiums.
• New community facilities, supplementing the work of the Palace for Life Foundation, which delivers health, education and sporting programmes for more than 13,500 local children and young adults.
• An estimated 700 new matchday jobs.
• A new museum, documenting the club’s rich history and its place in the South London community, as well as new retail and restaurant units.
• A bigger pitch, increased from 101.5m x 68m, to 105m x 68m, making Selhurst Park compliant with UEFA regulations and eligible to host tournament football.
• Premium hospitality and entertainment facilities for more than 2,500 supporters, including a new Tunnel Club, and between 16-28 boxes, which will give members a unique vantage point as the players prepare for the match and conduct post-match interviews.
• Improved sightlines in the Arthur Wait Stand with the removal of the TV gantry, and improved concourses.
• Redevelopment of the upper Whitehorse Lane Boxes into mixed bar/box use.

A plan overhead of how the re-development will look.

Chairman Steve Parish told the Official Palace website: "I would urge all our supporters to submit comments to Croydon Council to give our application the best possible chance of approval.

"This huge investment in Selhurst Park will provide a major boost to the borough in so many ways, including creating hundreds of new jobs, more facilities and space for our community to gather, and give thousands more fans the chance to experience top flight football at Palace.

"Our plans will transform the matchday experience for our fans and visitors to the borough, and by extending the pitch length – we are making Selhurst Park eligible to host international football in the future.

"We need a stadium that reflects who we are, how far we have come and where we want to go - a stadium that south London can be proud of, a home worthy of our incredible support and unique atmosphere and this great Premier League we represent.

"We are committed to working with Croydon Council to ensure our application proceeds, but now is your chance to support our bid. Please submit your comments on our proposal on the Croydon Council Planning Portal."

Full details of the plans, including artist impressions of the re-developed stand.