Essex County Cricket Club Gets Green Light
Working in partnership with Essex County Cricket Club and Chelmsford Borough Council, the £85 million regeneration will see the refurbishment and development of the Essex County Cricket Ground. The ambitious plans would see most of the existing ground rebuilt, with the capacity increasing by around 2000 to 8000, but was in doubt until the secretary of state approved the the proposals.
In addition to the capacity improvements there will be new residential, retail, hospitality and banqueting facilities, together with an entrance piazza and river bridge to Central Park. A new multi-storey car park will replace the existing surface car parking facility at New Writtle Street, and a new Graham Gooch Cricket Centre will provide state of the art practice and coaching facilities.
Essex Cricket welcomed the Secretary of State's decision to grant planning permission for the re-development of The Ford County Ground, Chelmsford.
The letter from the Secretary of State recognises the economic and community benefits, not only to the Club but also the town centre.
The Club and it's development partner MCD are closely studying the full transcript of the Inspector's report and the letter from the Secretary of State so that they can fully understand all the detailed aspects and conditions of the planning permission.
