Ambitious vision for new Bristol

Gloucestershire plan to increase Bristol's capacity to 20,000 - a figure that could cement it as a major international venue

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Gloucestershire have unveiled plans to transform the County Ground into a 20,000-seater stadium.

The visionary proposals, including a world-class media centre and greatly enhanced sporting and corporate entertainment facilities, are essential if Bristol is to retain its coveted one-day international status beyond 2011.

The project, expected to cost around £10million, will also contain accommodation for up to 550 students to provide vital enabling funding for the enterprising development.

Currently, the County Ground has a total of 3,668 permanent seats, which rises to a maximum of 16,000 for one-day international matches with the addition of temporary seats.

For international cricket to continue at Bristol and in the south west, Gloucestershire must conform to minimum standards specified by the ECB, which requires a minimum of 18,000 seats for the bigger matches, a 'world-class' media centre, commensurate corporate entertainment facilities and a number of other technical requirements involving the playing facilities.

In order to compete with other international venues, Gloucestershire are seeking to deliver a 20,000-seat capacity stadium, the majority of which should be permanent. Gloucestershire seek to be one of the host venues for the 2019 World Cup, which will take place in England, as well as the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson said: “We have to comply with the England and Wales Cricket Board standards if the hugely popular one day internationals are to continue at the County Ground and if we are going to be one of the venues for the future World Cups.

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“These matches are essential to provide the funds to develop players of international standing and have positive economic spin-off benefits for the city.

“We believe the scheme we are announcing for public consultation today is both imaginative and sensitive to our surroundings and represents the very best that can be achieved given the constrictions of the site which has been our home for over 130 years.”

The new media centre and hospitality suites incorporated into an expansion of the existing pavilion on the Lancashire Road side of the ground, together with improvements to the club’s existing BS7 sports and fitness club and possibly a new indoor pool.

Gloucestershire have been in discussion with Bristol City Council and are seeking an agreement to provide use of the cricket ground for a school playing field in return for continued provision of car parking.

The car free and pedestrian access only accommodation for 550 students would face the Ashley Down Road entrance, while the remainder of the seating would be along the boundary of Kennington Avenue and adjacent to the City of Bristol College.

The club is distributing 2,500 leaflets outlining the scheme to neighbours and inviting them to attend an exhibition at Gloucestershire CCC on Friday July 31 from 4-7pm and Saturday August 1 from 10am-1pm.