MCC puts Lord's 'Vision' debate on hold

The MCC has refused to take further consideration of the controversial residential development plans for the Nursery End at Lord's until work on other areas of the ground have been completed.

Mike Gatting, MCC's president, told the annual meeting that they presented a potential distraction at a time when emphasis was being placed on improvements to the pavilion end of the ground.

The MCC Committee, at the request of the Rifkind Levy Partnership, received a presentation last month from David Morley Architects, working on their behalf, in relation to development on the club's leasehold land at the Nursery End of Lord's.

Gatting told members: "The club is putting all its resources, at present, into plans to redevelop the pavilion end of the ground, including the south-western corner - which comprises the Tavern and Allen Stands, the Thomas Lord Suite, the Middlesex office and the pavilion extensions.

"Until the club has completed the redevelopment of the Warner Stand and the south-western corner, there is no need to consider any further presentations from RLP. The club must not be distracted from its plans."

MCC members have won a battle to preserve leg room in the redeveloped Warner Stand. They voted in favour of a resolution requiring seat row depths in the redeveloped stand to be no less than 900mm - an increase of 50mm on the current plan.

The design will only require adjustments, not the submission of a fresh planning application to Westminster City Council, who granted permission in March this year. Subject to the approval of MCC members next summer, the two-phase construction of the Warner Stand is due to begin at the end of the 2015 season.

The design for the new stand - which has been developed by Populous, architects of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium - includes a semi-translucent fabric roof, supported by a timber structure, which is the first of its kind in the country.