Selhurst Park redevelopment one step closer

A major hurdle has been cleared in Crystal Palace's long-planned redevelopment of Selhurst Park with the completion of the purchase of six houses next to the stadium.

The properties on Wooderson Close, a road south of the ground, will be prepared for demolition after the residents were rehoused.

Croydon Council mayor Jason Perry welcomed the housing sales, saying the money raised would fund new replacement council homes.

The Premier League club has been planning to redevelop Selhurst Park for years, including boosting fan capacity from 26,000 to more than 34,000 and improving facilities such as entranceways and changing rooms.

It is some good news for Eagles fans after Palace's shock defeat to sixth-tier Macclesfield in the third round of the FA Cup - a trophy the south-east London side won in May in what was a first major honour.

"This has been the result of sustained work behind the scenes by the council working with the club," said Perry.

"As a lifelong Palace supporter, I know how much Selhurst Park means to fans," he added.

Plans to redevelop Selhurst Park were first unveiled in December 2017, and were expected to take three years to complete.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic, changes to the club's planning application which required re-approval by local authorities, and questions over the rehousing of local residents, slowed down progress.

In the summer of 2024, Crystal Palace signed the final legal agreements with Croydon Council for the redevelopment of the main stand.

"It has long been our ambition to extend and modernise Selhurst Park, making it a home fit for the 21st Century," the club said.

Crystal Palace will provide a further update on the redevelopment project "in due course," according to the latest update on the football club's website.

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