Morgan Sindall wins £130m Crystal Palace sports centre overhaul
- Michael Ghobrial
- May 23
- 4 min read
Updated: May 26
Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed to deliver a £130 million regeneration of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in south London. The Greater London Authority (GLA) announced that this once-in-a-generation redevelopment will upgrade the historic 1964 venue under a design-and-build contract procured via the Mayor’s Southern Construction Framework. The project restores community sport facilities and revives an iconic leisure landmark. Work begins with an immediate pre-construction phase – including detailed planning submissions and listed-building consents – with major construction due to start in 2026 and complete by 2028. The award underscores a major new investment in London’s sports infrastructure, aligning with Mayor Sadiq Khan’s pledge to safeguard and modernise Crystal Palace for both local residents and elite athletics.
Redevelopment scope and delivery by Morgan Sindall
The redevelopment encompasses a complete overhaul of the National Sports Centre’s ageing facilities. Morgan Sindall’s team will fully rebuild the structure of the 50m main swimming pool, which has been closed since 2020 due to structural cracks, and modernise the adjacent diving pool and indoor pool hall. The dilapidated athletics stadium and track will be refurbished (building on recent interim repairs and floodlighting upgrades), while external sports pitches and community spaces are refreshed. Inside the centre, the sports halls, gym and indoor arena will be upgraded with new floors, lighting and fitness equipment, and visitor amenities (cafés, changing rooms and studios) will be completely renewed.
A key aspect is the heritage-sensitive nature of the work. The imposing 1960s Grade II-listed sports hall* – an architectural highlight of the complex – will be sympathetically restored under guidance from conservation specialists. Morgan Sindall’s design team (in collaboration with sports architects FaulknerBrowns, who produced the concept images) will ensure the building’s historic character is preserved even as it is upgraded to 21st-century standards. The contract covers all phases: feasibility and design development, securing planning and listed-building consents, and full construction. By the end of the programme the centre will offer state-of-the-art pools, athletics, and indoor sports facilities, transforming it into a modern multi-sport hub for London.
Strategic significance of the contract
For Morgan Sindall this project is a flagship win that builds on its reputation in major sports and public-sector projects. At £130m it is among the firm’s largest leisure infrastructure contracts in the UK, reflecting its expertise in complex design-and-build schemes under public frameworks. The deal strengthens Morgan Sindall’s long-standing relationship with the GLA’s Southern Construction Framework and highlights the company’s commitment to delivering high-profile regeneration and community benefits. For the Crystal Palace site and the boroughs it serves, the redevelopment is transformational. It rescues a long-neglected facility – once the scene of domestic athletics meetings and international events – and secures its future for decades. Local athletes (from schoolchildren to elite performers) will regain access to premier training venues, and residents will enjoy improved health and recreation amenities. The project dovetails with London’s broader sports legacy plans (even supporting plans for events like an Olympic bid), and will help revive the economic and social life of Crystal Palace Park. As Mayor Khan noted, there is “no downside to redeveloping Crystal Palace” – the regeneration is expected to boost community activity, nearby businesses and transport usage as the site is restored to its former glory.
Key stakeholders and project team
Client/owner: The project is driven by the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority (GLA), which has championed the centre’s overhaul. Funding and oversight come from the GLA and associated public bodies.
Operator: London Sport/GLA and leisure operator Better UK (GLL) will manage the Centre on completion.
Main contractor: Morgan Sindall Construction (London & Home Counties) is the lead contractor, appointed to deliver the design-and-build contract. The project is being delivered via the public-sector Southern Construction Framework, which Morgan Sindall has been on for over a decade.
Design and consultants: Morgan Sindall is assembling a specialist team for this landmark job. Architectural design is led by FaulknerBrowns (sport and leisure specialists, credited with the concept imagery), working alongside structural and M&E engineers to tackle the listed-building and heritage constraints. Conservation experts and heritage consultants are involved to navigate the Grade II* listing requirements. Sustainability and decarbonisation consultants will ensure the rebuilt centre meets modern environmental standards.
Other partners: Historic England and local planning authorities (Bromley and Croydon councils) will guide the work on the listed structure. Community stakeholders include the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership, a volunteers’ group whose lobbying helped kick-start the project, and local sports clubs and schools that will benefit from improved facilities. Morgan Sindall has committed to engaging local subcontractors and social value programmes: trades, suppliers and apprentices from south London will be used wherever possible to maximise the contract’s community impact. During construction the firm will also coordinate with ongoing works in Crystal Palace Park (a separate park restoration project) to ensure the wider area is developed cohesively.
Together, the client, contractors and consultants are embarking on a carefully managed regeneration of a historic UK leisure and sports venue. When complete in 2028, the revamped Crystal Palace National Sports Centre will stand as a model of modern sports infrastructure that balances cutting-edge design with heritage conservation, underlining the strategic importance of this contract for Morgan Sindall and for London’s sporting future.
