A £100million investment in a new football stadium is likely to have a huge wave affect on the local community with potentially a pot of £10million available to improve and regenerate the local area.

Crystal Palace Football Club  has a great relationship with its supporters and this investment could go a long way to convincing the local  community that the area is part of the club’s future.

Thornton Heath, South Norwood and Selhurst could receive millions of pounds in Community Interest Levy and S106 which is mitigation for the impact of developments.

This could result in improvements to local transport links, green spaces and may even generate more investment in the area.

The new ground which will take three years to complete will result in 8,000 more seats and 700 new jobs along with a bigger pitch, museum, hospitality and community facilities.

There are significant hurdles that the club will need to climb first to expand the Main Stand.The biggest is the demolition of four houses in Wooderson Close. Four are owned by the council and would involve a deal where the club buys ‘like for like’ properties in the local area for the occupants to be rehoused in.

The fifth house is privately owned but only part of the garden is required as part of the stadium redevelopment. This could result in the necessity for a Compulsory Purchase Order.

A number of spaces in the club car park will also be lost. The club leases the car park from Sainsbury’s so will need to negotiate with the supermarket.

At a recent Thornton Heath Community Action Team meeting Deputy Leader of the council Cllr Alison Butler said the council were  ‘disappointed’ that the club hadn’t wanted to work on a masterplan for the area as a whole.

However, at a public exhibition held at the club planners representing the club said it was a question of ‘seizing the moment’ because of funding from the club’s American investors.

Many away fans use Thornton Heath station as an arrival point but there is no sense of ‘place’ or signposting to the ground.

Transport will clearly be a major issue particular parking around the ground. In a recent survey of 2,000 fans, the club found out 50 per cent of supporters came to the stadium by train or bus which the club will be looking to significantly increase.

The club’s Development Manager, Guy Wickett said he would like residents to back the plan  but if there are aspects of the proposal they are not happy with then to  highlight them within that support.

The application is expected to be submitted by the end of January.

To see the plans: https://stadium.cpfc.co.uk