MCC to unveil Lord's plans in 2009

The MCC will unveil its £200m plans for Lord's during next summer's second Ashes Test against Australia, with plans that include the redevelopment of a number of ageing stands.

At a presentation before the second day's play against New Zealand, Keith Bradshaw, the MCC chief executive, outlined the club's ambitious plans - known as the Lord's masterplan - which have been sparked into life following fears that the ECB may cut the ground's allowance of two Test matches per summer to one. "We're doing everything we can to keep those matches," Bradshaw said. "For the good of the game in England it's important that the iconic venues like Lord's are developed into world-class modern stadia."

The plans include the erection of floodlights, which will collapse at the close of each season, in addition to the redevelopment of the Tavern, Allen, Compton and Edrich stands. Capacity will also increase by 10,000 to 38,000 if the ambitious proposals are agreed by MCC's members. The club has yet to appoint an architect - BDP, David Chipperfield Architects, Dixon Jones, Herzog & de Meuron, and Hopkins Architects were shortlisted last month - but is expected to announce the chosen candidate at the end of June, and hope building work could begin in 2011.

There are also plans to develop underneath the ground by utilising tunnels which could host a car park, a cricket academy or banqueting facilities. MCC hopes to fund the extensive operations with a development of hotels behind the Nursery End.