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Cricket fans, rejoice: Edgbaston Stadium bosses have confirmed plans for the venue’s £46m makeover, with the Raglan and Priory stands being redeveloped into a 3,200-seat stand and a 146-bed hotel. Howzat for good news?
The original stands at one of Birmingham’s biggest sporting venues were destroyed last November. Now, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, which holds its home games at the stadium, has announced that Cork-founded Sisk has been appointed to carry out the work (the construction firm also delivered the stands’ demolition). Liverpool-based architect KKA has designed the new structure.
Warwickshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive Stuart Cain said that Sisk has ‘an excellent track record of delivering high-quality sporting developments such as the Etihad Stadium north stand expansion, and West Midlands-based projects like Great Charles Street in the Jewellery Quarter’.
He added: ‘Major projects like these make it the ideal delivery partner for the next stage of our masterplan project.’
Work’s expected to be completed in time for the Men’s Ashes Test next summer. According to estimates, the construction will create 134 permanent jobs (adding to the 1,000 full-time equivalent roles currently provided by the site). The stadium’s annual contribution to the local economy is expected to increase by £40m – a figure that is projected to rise to £70m during a Cricket World Cup.
The hotel, which is expected to attract around 60,000 guests per year, will be a four-star Radisson Red gaff replete with hospitality boxes and rooms facing the pitch.
Stuart Cain said: ‘The next stage of our masterplan project will help cement our city as a world class sporting and tourism hub.’
The proposals were first approved back in February. At the time, it was reported that the new stand would also feature improved access for disabled people. When approval for the plans was announced, Edgbaston's strategy director Craig Flindall said: ‘Cricket will always stay at the heart of our thinking. But it's important we develop a stadium that operates all year round, supporting new jobs in this part of the city, and creates wider community opportunities.’
The new construction is being partially funded by a whopping £18m loan provided by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: ‘Our region is home to a number of globally celebrated sports teams and venues. By supporting them to grow, we shore up our place on the international stage, bringing visitors, investment and jobs now and into the future.’
Did you hear that a new 16,000-capacity football stadium will transform one of England’s greatest cities?
Plus: Last year, Birmingham was named as one of Time Out’s best places to visit in Europe.
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