Old Trafford Upgrade

Lancashire County Cricket Club have announced that major re-development work on Old Trafford could start as early as 2009.

The plans for the ground itself include two new grandstands, new player and media facilities and a hotel, as well as the enhancement of the existing pavilion.

The ground development is part of a regeneration plan for the Borough of Trafford which is to include new business, residential, retail and leisure space for the area.

The proposals for the whole regeneration plan have been put together by Lancashire County Cricket Club and its partners Trafford Council, Ask Developments, Tesco and the neighbouring Stretford High School.

Derek Davies, Headmaster of Stretford High School said: “The club is in detailed discussions with the school and its governors, as well as the local authority, to identify how the proposals can deliver maximum benefits for the local community. This is an exciting opportunity to get Trafford’s young people a great result.” [Lancs website, 2008]

Lancashire have long been one of the biggest cricket clubs on the county scene and have often staged international matches involving England, but in recent years have seen that international status start to decline, largely because of development at other grounds.

Once the two new grandstands are complete, the capacity at the ground will be 15,000 with the potential to rise to 25,000 with temporary seating installed. This would result in ample capacity for international games, which Lancs hope to install as a more permanent fixture at the club.



Susan Williams, leader of Trafford Council said: “We warmly welcome the proposals as a basis for wider consultation. We fully support the club’s ambitions to secure the future of international cricket in the north-west and we look forward to it gaining a richly deserved international profile. The new Old Trafford will bring an awareness and interest to the borough which will further boost our famous sport, leisure and visitor offer.” [Lancs website, 2008]

As part of the development a new playing outfield will also be laid, with a much faster state of the art drainage system similar to the one used at Lords, which is great news for a club that notoriously suffers problems with heavy rain and a soggy outfield.

Having lodged a planning application after the Chief Executive of Trafford Council unanimously approved the proposals, the club are now waiting for the green light to start the first phase of the development early in the new year, with the plan of having the whole project complete by 2012.

Lancs website: http://www.lccc.co.uk/