Essex development hit by inquiry

Essex's plans to redevelop their Chelmsford ground have been put on hold after an inquiry was launched into the proposed building work following fears put forward by local residents and concerns over flooding.

The club hope to increase capacity at the County Ground to 8000 and had been due to start work this year, but will now have to convince an independent planning committee. The plans also include several tower blocks of flats and corporate facilities to finance the modernisation.

Essex have expressed surprise at the problems they have encountered after believing the plans would boost the local area. "Our development is a high quality design bringing much needed housing and jobs to the area," Keith Brown, the Essex treasurer, told the club website. "This scheme would act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre and moreover takes proper account of the flood risk by retaining the flood storage capability of the site as well as raising the entire scheme safely out of the flood plain.

"It brings huge benefit to young people and the wider community together with substantial economic advantages to the town, not least in the development of Chelmsford as an internationally recognised cricketing venue.

"This delay creates uncertainty at a time when the economic conditions are very difficult and puts in jeopardy the whole funding and financial viability of the project. However, we have no choice but to make our case at the public inquiry and trust it will be expedited to allow the secretary of state to determine the application with minimum delay."