Contents 
Introduction 4 
Consultation 5 
Crystal Palace Draft Planning Framework 5 
Core principles 6 
Vision 7 
National Sports Centre (NSC) 8 
The Hilltop 10 
Norwood Triangle Gateway 10 
Additional information 12 
Croydon Tramlink Extension 12 
Appointment of masterplanners 12 
Dialogue 13 
Next steps 13 


Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum 3



Introduction


In October 2005, the London Development Agency (LDA) published the consultation 
draft of the Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework, which sets out the aspirations 
and vision for the future of the park. This marked the beginning of a consultation 
period stretching from October until 20 December 2005, which involved a two 
week static exhibition in a marquee at the eastern and western ends of the park, 
and a series of road shows at key locations, including nearby town centres. 

Following this extensive consultation exercise, the LDA has been further developing 
the ideas for the park in the context of the feedback received from the public and 
stakeholders, and by continuing to work with the dialogue groups. Although a number 
of changes to the original Draft Planning Framework are proposed (which are outlined 
in the following sections), in general the ideas for the park were well received and 
did not justify the reprinting of the full framework document. 

This addendum provides an overview of the proposed changes to the framework 
proposals largely arising out of the consultation process. It effectively draws to 
a close this preliminary stage of the process, allowing the recently appointed 
landscape-led masterplanners to produce a more detailed masterplan for the park. 


4 Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum



Consultation 

The level of interest in the consultation event 
was significant, with nearly 5000 visitors to 
the exhibition, town centre road shows and two 
presentations to local groups. This also included 
those that responded via the LDA website. Over 
2,500 completed questionnaires were returned 
with more than 10,000 individual comments. 

In general, support for the proposals set out in 
the draft framework was strong, particularly for 
the overall vision and the underlying principles. 
Details of the consultation results can be found 
in the publication ‘Crystal Palace Park: Report 
on the LDA Public Consultation Exercise October-
December 2005’ produced by Nigel Westaway 
& Associates which can be viewed on the 
crystalpalacepark.org.uk website. 


Crystal Palace Park Draft 
Planning Framework 

The Planning Framework was accepted as 
the basis for further discussion by the London 
Borough of Bromley (LBB) in January 2006. 
The document will be taken into account 
when assessing any planning, listed building 
or conservation area consent applications 
relating to the park. 

The London Borough of Bromley’s Unitary 
Development Plan (UDP), was formally adopted 
in the summer of 2006. While the Planning 
Framework takes account of the broad objectives 
of the UDP, it clearly concentrates on the particular 
circumstances of Crystal Palace Park. Any 
proposals for the park will need to accord with 
the development plan (comprising the London 
Plan and the Bromley UDP), unless material 
planning considerations indicate otherwise. 

The Draft Planning Framework document 
included a masterplan for the park, setting 
out ideas to support the vision. However, the 
level of detail needed for a planning application 
required the LDA to appoint masterplanners 
to work up the ideas set out in the Framework 
and develop new ideas resulting from their 
own work. This will form the basis of a planning 
application which is intended to be submitted 
to LBB in the summer of 2007. 


Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum 5



Core principles 

The Framework sets out five core principles 
(paragraph 4.2) which underpin the vision for 
the rejuvenation and regeneration of the park. 
The first of the five – a revived metropolitan 
park – makes reference in the subsequent text 
to “acknowledging (the park’s) historical past”, 
but the rich heritage embodied in the park can be 
reinforced by including the words ‘heritage asset’ 
in the first core principle. This will now read: 

A revived metropolitan 
park and heritage asset 
The other principles remain as: 

a sports and events park 
a sustainable park 
an accessible and integrated park 
an educational park 
6 Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum



Vision 

Although the overall vision for the park was 
strongly supported in the consultation process, 
there was no specific reference to heritage in 
the vision statement (paragraph 5.2). Therefore 
the statement has been amended and now 
reads as follows: 

Crystal Palace Park is one of the most 
important 19th century urban parks in the 
country. It contains not only significant 
remains from its original Joseph Paxton design 
but also later layers of history that reflect its 
changing use and status over the years. 

Our vision is to rejuvenate Crystal Palace 
Park as a metropolitan park, heritage asset, 
cultural, leisure, educational and recreational 
resource for the 21st century to meet the 
needs of local people, sports people and 
the public at large while reinterpreting 
and conserving its national significance. 


Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum 7



National Sports Centre (NSC) 

The Framework (Section 6.2, Area One - The NSC 
and Athletics Stadium) included proposals for 
the removal of the National Sports Centre Indoor 
Arena, which currently contains the swimming pool 
and dry side sports, to be replaced with parkland 
and a new sports centre closer to the station. 

This approach had been based on a number of 
factors, including: the outmoded nature of the 
existing building which does not meet today’s 
requirements for sports (see paragraph 2.5.23 of 
the Framework); its location within the centre of 
the park, detracting from the original Paxton 
vision and objectives for Metropolitan Open Land 
(MOL); the fragile nature of the mechanical plant 
which has been in the building for over 40 years 
now, and would need extensive upgrading and 
replacement at considerable cost; the apparent 
lack of any suitable alternative use which would 
not require large public subsidies; and the results 
of previous consultation showing public support 
to demolish the NSC. 

Subsequent discussions with English Heritage 
have led to a re-consideration of this position, 
exploring further options for the retention of 
this structure and its reuse. 

Following these discussions, the LDA now proposes 
to retain the NSC, not as a multi-use sports centre, 
for it doesn’t meet modern day standards and is 
no longer fit for purpose, but for a more low-key 
sports function, such as five-a-side football. 


8 Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum



This would require the stripping out of much of 
the infrastructure in the building, rafting over the 
swimming and diving pools and the conversion 
of the current squash courts along the spine of the 
building into changing rooms. It would also allow the 
removal of much of the unsightly infrastructure 
which has grown up around the NSC over the years 
and which further compromises the open nature 
of the park. This would need to be undertaken in 
phases in order to maintain sports use within the 
park, but would ultimately lead to a greatly 
improved setting for this listed building. 

The intention for the centre’s reuse would be 
to bring the park up to the edge of the building, 
requiring the infilling of the range of unattractive 
spaces which now surround the NSC, to create the 
appearance of a pavilion in the park. References to 
the total removal of the NSC within the Planning 
Framework should therefore be disregarded and 
replaced with this more conservation-based 
approach which retains the main indoor arena. 
However, these works are unlikely to be fully 
implemented until a new sports centre is built. 

For the new permanent sports centre, the 
intention is that, subject to a successful planning 
application, this would not be built until after the 
2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, to 
allow events such as the London Youth Games and 
the Athletics Grand Prix to continue at Crystal Palace. 

The LDA is committed to maintaining swimming 
facilities in the park, until a new permanent facility 
is built. This is likely to be via an upgrade to the 
plant servicing the existing building. 


Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum 9



The Hilltop 

The Planning Framework set out two options for 
the Hilltop on page 51. The first option proposed 
retaining and enhancing most of the Hilltop as 
parkland but with the provision of normal park 
facilities (such as play areas, toilets etc), a viewing 
platform and with the potential of revitalising 
and reusing the subway structure. 

The second option proposed all of the above, plus 
the development of a major new indoor attraction 
perhaps with a café/restaurant, botanical winter 
garden and butterfly house. 

The consultation results showed more support for 
the first option, retaining the majority of the Hilltop 
for parkland. Consequently, this option has been 
retained in the revised Masterplan Framework. 


Norwood Triangle Gateway 

The Planning Framework set out four options for 
the Norwood Gate (options A, B, C and D) ranging 
from a ‘built option’ (Option A) to a primarily 
‘landscaped option’ (Option D). These are set out 
in Section 6 of the Framework on pages 55 and 56. 
The consultation results showed no clear support 
for any option although the landscape proposals 
(Options C and D) received the most support. 
The main issue with the built options principally 
related to the residential component which raised 
a number of concerns from local groups. 

Following this feedback, the LDA commissioned 
three architectural firms to re-consider the 
Norwood Triangle Gate, largely along the lines 
of Option C with an absence of any residential 
element. The brief for the architects was drawn 
up in consultation with the dialogue group, 
clearly setting out the elements people wanted 
to see within this gate. As expected, the three 
designs, which all included a performance space, 
café and better connections to the park, showed 
some similarities in the way these elements were 
arranged, but all proposed ‘gates’ which were 
remarkably different in character. 

The schemes were presented to the main 
dialogue group with two receiving clear support. 
The Arup Associates proposal, which was one 
of these, has been incorporated into the revised 
Masterplan Framework along with the retention 
of the National Sports Centre Indoor Arena as 
explained in more detail on pages 8 and 9. 

10 Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum



Revised masterplan



Additional information 
Since producing the Planning Framework and adopting 
the changes set out in this addendum, TfL have progressed 
with their proposals for the Croydon Tramlink Extension and the 
masterplanners for the park have been appointed. The dialogue 
process is continuing, helping the masterplanners to develop 
their ideas in the context of the revised masterplan framework. 
Also, following the production of this broad vision, the first 
changes to improve the park are about to happen. 


Croydon Tramlink Extension 

A proposal to bring the Croydon Tramlink Extension 
to Crystal Palace by Transport for London (TfL), 
which was mentioned in the Planning Framework 
(paragraph 4.2.27), has now been the subject of a 
consultation exercise. The proposals show the tram 
route linking Croydon and Upper Norwood town 
centre via Crystal Palace Station. 

The intention is to bring the tram close to the 
Norwood Triangle Gate where it can interchange 
with the bus station. TfL are considering a number 
of route options for the tram, either running up 
Anerley Hill or through the park. A decision will 
not be taken by TfL on their preferred route until 
summer 2007. The planning application for the 
park will reflect the preferred route. 

Appointment of masterplanners 

In May 2006, the LDA advertised for firms to 
undertake the masterplanning of the park. This 
was a major step forward, marking the next stage 
of the rejuvenation of Crystal Palace Park. At the 
end of July, and following a significant number 
of submissions, a winning team was selected 
to take forward this important work. 

Latz + Partner, together with a large multidisciplinary consultant team, were appointed 
and are now taking forward this work. The 
intention is to use the masterplan as the basis 
for the main planning application for the park 
to be submitted to the London Borough of 
Bromley in autumn 2007. 


12 Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum



Dialogue 

The park users and sports users working groups, 
together with the main dialogue group, are 
continuing to discuss and input into the 
development of ideas for the park. These 
groups and the wider stakeholders will work 
with the masterplanners to develop a masterplan 
which sets out the future direction for the park. 
As part of this process, the masterplanner’s 
consultation consultants will be developing 
a broader community engagement strategy. 

Next steps 

The masterplanning team will be developing 
their ideas for the park in the context of the 
Planning Framework and also in consultation 
with the public and key stakeholders. There 
will be a further exhibition of these ideas 
before the application is submitted to the 
London Borough of Bromley in the autumn 
of 2007. In the meantime, and subject to the 
appropriate approvals, works to improve access 
to the park including the removal of unsightly 
and unnecessary fencing and turnstiles will 
start in spring 2007. 


Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum 13



14 Crystal Palace Park Planning Framework Addendum



Other languages and formats 
This document is also available in large print, braille, 
on disk, audio cassette and in the languages listed 
below. For a copy, please contact the LDA 
Communications Team: 

London Development Agency,
Palestra,
197 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8AA


Tel: 020 7593 9000
Email: communications@lda.gov.uk
Textphone: 020 7593 9001


Photographs: Robin Buckle, Johanna Gibbons, Tobias Kramer 

Rendered images and drawings: Arup Associates 

This document has been compiled by Robin Buckle. The LDA would 
like to thank everyone who has contributed to the production of the 
revised masterplan. 

Designed by Brent Design Unit: design@brent.gov.uk 

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London Development Agency,
Palestra,
197 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8AA


Tel: 020 7593 8000
Fax: 020 7593 8002
Textphone: 020 7593 8001
www.lda.gov.uk


02.07 BDU 5395