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Crystal Palace's £500m replica plans unveiled | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Plans to build a replica of The Crystal Palace on the site of the ground-breaking Victorian building in south London have been unveiled. | |
ZhongRong Group wants to build a new cultural attraction and restore the surrounding park in Bromley. | ZhongRong Group wants to build a new cultural attraction and restore the surrounding park in Bromley. |
The original was built in 1851 in Hyde Park but moved to Crystal Palace in 1854. It burnt down in 1936. | The original was built in 1851 in Hyde Park but moved to Crystal Palace in 1854. It burnt down in 1936. |
The Chinese investment group announced its plans at an event with the mayor and leader of Bromley Council. | |
The project is expected to create more than 2,000 permanent and temporary jobs as well as attract wider investment into the local high streets. | |
But London assembly Green Party member Darren Johnson said it was a "poorly timed" proposal. | |
ZhongRong Group chairman Ni Zhaoxing said: "London is renowned across the world for its history and culture and the former Crystal Palace is celebrated in China as a magnificent achievement. | |
World famous | |
"This project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring its spirit back to life by recreating The Crystal Palace and restoring the park to its former glory." | |
Mayor of London Boris Johnson welcomed the announcement and said together with Bromley Council, he would work closely with the ZhongRong Group to progress the plans. | |
The Greens Darren Johnson, however, said: "While I'm sure many people would love to see The Crystal Palace raised from the ashes, this precious parkland isn't the right place for it. | |
"When the palace was moved there in the 1850s the newly laid out park was near countryside, but today it's an urban park with a lot of space already taken up by the national sports centre, car parks, roads and the caravan site." | |
Labour London assembly member Val Shawcross said: "I would be particularly concerned about the impact of two million additional visitors per year on local transport and road networks." | |
It is anticipated the new building will be the same size and scale as the original palace, which was designed by Joseph Paxton. | |
The cast-iron and plate-glass building housed The Great Exhibition, which featured more than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world showing off Britain's industrial achievements. | The cast-iron and plate-glass building housed The Great Exhibition, which featured more than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world showing off Britain's industrial achievements. |
The palace and the grounds became the world's first theme park, offering education, entertainment, a rollercoaster and cricket matches, and even staged 20 FA Cup Finals between 1895-1914. | The palace and the grounds became the world's first theme park, offering education, entertainment, a rollercoaster and cricket matches, and even staged 20 FA Cup Finals between 1895-1914. |
While the palace was in existence it was the largest glass structure in the world. | While the palace was in existence it was the largest glass structure in the world. |
There will be a year of consultation and design development before plans are formally submitted in autumn 2014. | There will be a year of consultation and design development before plans are formally submitted in autumn 2014. |