Rose Bowl expansion approved

The Rose Bowl is set to for a £45million upgrade shortly

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Hampshire have been granted planning permission for a £45million development of the Rose Bowl.

The changes will include the construction of two new stands which will provide seating for 5,000 extra spectators along with a range of of hospitality, media and other spectator facilities.

A 175-bedroom hotel will be built around the northern end of the ground, overlooking the pitch. It will contain a spa and extensive conference facilities.

At major matches all the hotel's pitch-facing rooms will convert to hospitality suites or media facilities.

The existing nine-hole golf course will be transformed into an 18-hole course after Eastleigh Borough Council approved the application.

Rose Bowl plc chairman Rod Bransgrove said: “This decision is good news for The Rose Bowl and English cricket in general as it represents one more important step on our journey to build a truly world class stadium and the first model Test match ground.”

Rose Bowl plc Group managing director Glenn Delve added: “I would like to thank the members of Eastleigh Borough Council for approving our application which allows us to move to the next stage in the development of this fabulous stadium, a facility which will bring enormous economic, social, sporting and community benefits to Eastleigh and south Hampshire in general.”