Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says he’s “ecstatic” the club has been given the go-ahead to redevelop its Academy.
Bromley Council granted planing permission for new facilities at the grounds in Beckenham, which will include a full-size covered pitch, a full-size 3G pitch, seven grass pitches and upgrades to the site buildings.
Subject to completion of the 106 agreement and GLA referral, the works should be finalised in time for next season as Palace aim to fulfil the Premier League’s Category 1 Academy status.
“It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time, so we are absolutely ecstatic that Bromley have given us the go-ahead,” said Parish to Palace TV.
“This is an academy we can all be really proud of right in the heart of our catchment area.
“Finding a piece of land has been really difficult and then attaining planning, the most complex thing has been the environmental side – the flow of the water building up on the pitches. It has been an incredible complicated project.
“I think this will give an exceptional opportunity to the boys, not just in their footballing development but in their educational mentoring. We can improve all of those with the facilities that we have got.”
Palace secured a long-term lease for the site, located across the road from the first-team’s base on Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, in December 2018.