Worcester redevelopment gets the go ahead

Worcestershire have secured planning permission for the £10 million development of the County Ground which will include work to the New Road end. The work will include a new atrium entrance, hotel, hospitality suites, media centre, banqueting rooms and a new members' pavilion. The existing pavilion will be retained on another part of the ground.

"Despite all the issues of being located in the flood plain and in a conservation area, we have secured the much needed permission which will allow us to create 21st century facilities for players and spectators without changing the essential ambiance of our world-famous ground," said Mark Newton, the chief executive. " All our buildings will be raised above the flood plain and we will be able to develop a sustainable year round business to support our cricket."

The county hope that construction will start later this year over a phased period which should allow cricket to continue unaffected.