More than six years since Crystal Palace first applied for planning permission, construction work is on course to start at the end of the football season, while south London-based businessmen have been lined up to buy out John Textor as the club’s co-owner
Crystal Palace say that their £150million main stand development at Selhurst Park is “progressing well”, with demolition and building works all set to start at the end of the Premier League season next May.
Coming in to land: work is due to begin on Crystal Palace’s spaceship-like main stand next summer
Also closing in on a conclusion is the status of the club’s ownership, after John Textor’s efforts to switch allegiance with a takeover of Premier League rivals Everton were confirmed today as being thwarted. The club’s co-owners are hopeful that another business group will step in to buy out Textor’s stake.
Club chairman Steve Parish’s ambitions, meanwhile, are focused on up-grading Palace’s 100-year-old stadium.
In a statement issued by the club, they say that they are now in the final planning phase, “including ongoing negotiations with contractors”.
The statement says: “Initial enabling works have begun towards the construction, including some minor adjustments to the existing main stand, and preparations for the expected site footprint.
“As is common practice for a development of this magnitude, the club have identified the potential for a small range of ‘minor material amendments’ to the original stadium design plans, and are in communication with local residents and Croydon Council to obtain permission for these.”
Palace say that the amendments to the scheme include:
- An updated seating layout to meet new safety guidance;
- Changes to the parking plans, to reduce disruption to local residents;
- Improvements to the proposed Fanzone, car park and Sainsbury’s car park to meet operational needs and increase greening;
- Enhancing the entrance to the new stand on the Holmesdale Road corner;
- Refinement of the materials and design of the new stand.
Palace’s original planning application for the new main stand was submitted more than six years ago.
The statement continued: “The main contractor has completed the construction management plan for the construction phase, and will shortly conclude with Croydon Council – this will help to ensure that lorries entering and leaving the construction site will create the minimum disturbance to residents.
“This will be constantly monitored and enforced by the contractor and the club.”
Something else that the club has been constantly monitoring is the status of John Textor’s bid to takeover Everton.
On his way out: John Textor
The news today that the Friedkin Group, another American-owned business empire, had bought a 98.8% stake in Everton – just before the club moves to its new dockside stadium – confirmed that Textor’s ambitions on Merseyside are in tatters.
In August, Textor astonished Palace fans and the footballing public with a 1,000-word farewell note to Selhurst Park, while pledging his newly-found enduring affection for Everton. “Everton represents the best of English football. How great would it be to take one of these great English clubs back to sort of glory?” Textor was reported to say earlier this year.
Textor’s failure to cut a deal with Everton had left Parish and the other co-owners – John Harris and David Blitzer – still needing to find someone to buy-out his 45% share.
It was reported earlier this week that Sportsbank is close to a £230million deal for Textor’s shares.
Sportsbank are led by south London-based businessmen Zechariah Janjua and Navshir Jaffer, and have been notified that they are Textor’s preferred bidders.
Read more: “I believe I will be referring to a new club as ‘my club’ soon”
Read more: Development costs for Selhurst Park’s new stand soar by 50%
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