A Chinese billionaire is planning to build an exact replica of the Crystal Palace where the original burned down in 1936.
Ni Zhaoxing, who heads ZhongRong Holdings, has held talks with Bromley Council and the Greater London Authority about recreating the 900,000 sq ft glass halls, which were designed by Joseph Paxton.
These talks are at an early stage and it is believed the Shanghai-based real estate company will lodge a planning application with the council later this year.
But the news has not been well-received by campaigners worried about development in the park.
The original palace stretched from what is now the bus station to the television mast and Crystal Palace Community Association chairman John Payne says such a development would be impossible today.
He said: "It may have been the site of the Crystal Palace but it is no longer the case; it is now metropolitan open land, which is protected.
"I think Bromley Council should be making this point very strongly to any developer.
"Privately Bromley Council still harbours an aspiration to see a major development on the top of the park so the park does always seem to be somewhat under threat."
The wreckage of the palace after it burnt down in 1936
Ray Sacks, chairman of the Crystal Palace Campaign, said an act of Parliament would have to be changed before the development could proceed.
He said: "We're not at the ‘chaining to the bulldozer’ phase yet, but we should have the chains ready.
"To accommodate a full-scale Crystal Palace, the Crystal Palace Act (1990) would have to be changed since it limits the footprint of buildings.
"This amounts to about a quarter of the original palace footprint.
"There is a long way to go before we get to the stage of the top site being desecrated."
A Bromley Council spokesman said, "It is a matter of public record we are committed to improving Crystal Palace Park which remains a jewel, not just in Bromley, but in London’s crown."
A spokeswoman for the Mayor of London said: "The mayor is committed to finding a long-term sustainable future for Crystal Palace Park.
"The mayor and the London borough of Bromley have been approached by a potential developer who is keen to redevelop a large section of the north-side of the park.
"Discussions between all parties remain at a very early feasibility stage but the plans do not include any residential development.
"Any fully formed proposal would of course be presented to the public for comment in order to build a consensus on the way forward."
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