LDA secures future of swimming and athletics at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

The London Development Agency today announced that swimming and athletics events will continue to be staged in Crystal Palace Park to 2012 and beyond. This follows a decision by the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone that major sporting events such as the athletics Grand Prix and the London Youth Games should continue at this world famous venue until at least 2012.

The London Development Agency will retain the existing National Sports Centre building and maintain the athletics stadium in its current structure and then build a new sports centre and reconfigure the stadium after 2012.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:

"The history of the Crystal Palace athletics and sports centre has played a pivotal role over the decades in inspiring not only home bred world class athletes but people from all walks of life to take up sport. I have always said I want to ensure we retain these valuable facilities not only for use by our 2012 medal hopefuls but also by all Londoners and these plans would secure a great future for this world famous sporting landmark."

The Mayor of London and the LDA rescued the park's sports facilities with Sport England in 2004. The London Development Agency then took responsibility for the swimming pool and athletics facilities at the National Sports Centre in March 2006. However, at over 40 years old, the pool's machinery and equipment is nearing the end of its operational life. The London Development Agency is therefore looking at ways to keep swimming in the Park. This includes an option to replace the machinery, pumps and other equipment. However given the age and design of the National Sports Centre, this may not be feasible.

A second option could be to build a new 'temporary' Olympic-sized swimming pool close to the athletics stadium which could be open as soon as August 2007. 'Temporary' pools have been used for competitions in the US, and such pools have a long operational life. Once the new pool opens, the LDA could then convert the current swimming facilities into a dry sports area - for indoor athletics and other indoor sports. The other sports facilities in the NSC such as the outdoor athletics stadium would remain open for major athletics events until the 2012 Olympics when major national and international events will transfer to the new Olympic stadium in Stratford.

Alongside these works, the LDA will reclaim and clean the space around the NSC building removing much of the concrete and surplus building structures creating more open green space in the centre of Crystal Palace Park. The schedule for this green space reclamation will be determined by which option is chosen to secure swimming in the Park between now and 2012.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• The London Development Agency is the Mayor's agency for sustainable economic development. The LDA prepares the Mayor's business plan for London and mobilises the support and resources of hundreds of partner organisations to help build a thriving economy for London's people, businesses and communities. The LDA is dedicated to improving sustainability, health and equality of opportunity for Londoners.
• The retention of the NSC building also follows discussions with English Heritage, the organisation that looks after listed buildings in England.  They objected to the LDA's original proposal to demolish the existing building to create more open space.
• The LDA will appoint a 'masterplanner' in late July 2006, who will draw up plans for the reconfiguration and redesign of the whole of Crystal Palace Park.  Once these plans are finalized - in 2007 - the LDA will hold a further round of consultation to give people the opportunity to comment on them before going ahead.