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We are delighted that the Crystal Palace Community Association (CPCA), a member of the society, is to appear in the Court of Appeal on Monday (22 April) in defence of Crystal Palace Park.
The CPCA is appealing against the High Court ruling that the Bromley Council owned Crystal Palace Park can be sacrificed for commercial development. The park is protected Grade II* registered Metropolitan Open Land.
The High Court had rejected CPCA’s case against the sale of part of Crystal Palace Park for 180 private luxury apartments in blocks of flats, to part-fund a so-called masterplan for the rest of the site.
The grounds of the CPCA’s appeal are that it was unlawful to give effect to the masterplan by way of outline planning permission, and that the sale of public parkland for private housing is not an ‘imperative reason of overriding public importance’ that justifies potential damage and disturbance to bats under the Habitats Directive.
Says our chairman Tim Crowther: ‘We are delighted that the CPCA is fighting this important issue through the courts. The outcome will affect not only the historic and unique Crystal Palace Park but green spaces everywhere.
‘We wish the CPCA all strength in its battle. We trust that the court will rule that Crystal Palace Park should be saved from commercial development.’