Cricket club and nursery hit for six by HSBC sale

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

HSBC is selling its 27-acre sports ground in Beckenham to Crystal Palace football club, forcing the New Beckenham Cricket Club and Bright Horizons nursery to vacate by the end of the year. This move disrupts community sports and childcare services in the area, complicating relocation efforts and raising concerns among parents and local residents about the loss of long-standing facilities.

A long-standing cricket club and a children’s nursery in south London are facing displacement following a land sale by global bank HSBC. The New Beckenham Cricket Club and the Bright Horizons nursery, both located on a 27-acre sports ground in Beckenham, have been served notice to vacate as the site is set to be acquired by Premier League football club Crystal Palace for expansion of its training facilities.

Crystal Palace agreed last week to purchase the HSBC Sports Ground adjacent to its current training base. The transaction, valued between £20 million and £40 million, is expected to complete by mid-2027. HSBC served a three-month notice to Bright Horizons nursery, requiring the organisation to leave the premises by December 9, disrupting care for approximately 60 children. Parents have expressed concern over finding alternative childcare in the area, with some citing the impact on work commutes and limited local availability.

Charlotte Sivervy, a parent and teacher from Beckenham, said the closure imposes significant logistical challenges, describing it as a “complete lack of responsibility towards the community.” Another parent, Robert White, questioned how the local infrastructure would accommodate the sudden need for additional childcare places.

The cricket club received notification from HSBC Sports & Social Club on September 8 that it will no longer have access to the grounds after the current season. The club, which has occupied the site for over a century and survived damage from a World War II V-2 rocket strike, will need to relocate its four Saturday league teams, Sunday senior sides, junior participants, and community programmes. Equipment removal must be completed within 30 days. The club spokesman acknowledged the difficulty of securing an alternative venue due to limited availability of suitable sites, raising concerns about their ability to maintain fixtures in the coming season.

Greg Robinson, a parent and Crystal Palace supporter, described the sale as “heartbreaking,” lamenting the loss of opportunity for both youth and senior players and underscoring the significance of the club’s long heritage.

HSBC stated that it is working with the clubs affected by the sale to provide support and that the notice periods complied with statutory requirements. The bank highlighted that several Bright Horizons nurseries operate within a five-mile radius of the site. An HSBC source clarified that formal notice could only be issued once the sale agreement was signed, due to non-disclosure obligations preventing earlier communication.

Crystal Palace confirmed the acquisition of the land from HSBC but noted the sale was contingent upon vacant possession, with no tenants remaining on the property at completion. The development plans for the site are expected to contribute to the football club’s facility expansion, although no further details have been disclosed.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.