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Project development – concept to completion

All successful facilities projects involve careful advance planning. Here is some advice to help your club when starting out.

Developing your club’s facilities is an exciting and worthwhile venture and, when funded and managed correctly, will contribute to its long-term sustainability.

Tips for developing your project

All successful projects involve careful advance planning and mapping. Here is some advice to help you when starting out:

  • Seek advice from specialists – e.g. ECB facilities staff, industry consultants, etc. Contact facilities@ecb.co.uk for initial advice and direction
  • Design the scheme according to the key requirements and characteristics. This includes specifications, technical briefing notes, drawings, etc. based on your site conditions
  • The proposed design should be reviewed by the ECB or the funding authority prior to committing to estimates or quotations
  • Make a realistic financial commitment and assess whether you can afford to maintain the facility you are designing
  • Think about how the project will accommodate the current and future needs of your club

Our guide to developing your facility project (PDF) provides further direction on how to manage your project from start to finish.

In addition, our Developing Your School Site guide (PDF) will assist schools and designers in planning indoor and outdoor cricket facilities, from sports halls to fine turf and non-turf provision. 

For advice specific to pavilion and clubhouse projects, download our technical guidance notes for pavilions and clubhouses (PDF).

Planning applications

It is worth considering that any planned improvement to facilities, be it fine turf works, non turf practice, buildings or even advertising may require planning permission.

Any club that is considering a project to build a new facility or make a change to your existing facilities should download and read Sport England’s guide to making a planning application for sports clubs (PDF).