Plans to refurbish the Trent Bridge cricket ground have been submitted after the club said its members’ pavilion has “long failed” to provide adequate facilities for players and officials.
Rushcliffe Borough Council received the application from Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club to partially demolish and extend the pavilion at the ground in West Bridgford.
The building currently “falls a long way short” of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) standards.
Documents with the planning application also state that the ECB is “fully supportive” of the improvement plans.
Documents stated: “The consequential economic benefits to the city and county of Trent Bridge hosting Test cricket run into the tens of millions. Without making the improvements that this project will bring, future major match allocations for 2025-2031 would potentially be at risk.”
The plans for the ground, which has a capacity of more than 17,000, include upgrades to player and official facilities.
The current building also has “poor accessibility and no lift” but under the new plans, the facilities would be fully accessible.
The plans for Trent Bridge (credit Rushcliffe Borough Council)
The improved pavilion would have bigger facilities, unisex changing rooms and more room for kit and equipment. The club said it aims to retain as much of the existing building as possible.
In 2019 Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club said it would embark on a masterplan for Trent Bridge.
The development will ensure the ground remains a “competitive as a major international cricket venue”, the club says.
Documents stated: “Despite its iconic status as the internationally recognised symbol of Trent Bridge, the Pavilion has long failed to be able to provide player and official facilities to the standard currently expected for international cricket.
“Both in terms of space requirements and the quality of accommodation, the building falls a long way short of current ECB standards.
“It became clear following the completion of the masterplan that the Pavilion should be our focus, and this project has been ongoing since then.
“Many of the other major venues in the country have undertaken large-scale redevelopments over the past decade and a number of the Test Match venues have addressed the improvement of player facilities as part of these redevelopment.”
Councillors will now make a decision on whether to approve planning permission.
The cricket club says the game has changed “significantly” and “continues to develop/evolve at pace with new formats such as ‘The Hundred’, the expansion of the women’s game and the development of the academy and pathway programmes”.
Currently, it is only possible to accommodate two teams inside the pavilion building. Under the new plans, the ground would have space for four competing teams.
Documents stated: “Trent Bridge needs to be able to offer facilities that match the expectations of the ECB (the sport’s governing body) and those of other major venues if it is to retain its status as a Test Match ground and as a venue for other major national and international cricket fixtures.”
