NWDA pitches in to help Lancashire cricket

THE North West Development Agency today said it is investing £2.65m to help with the multi-million pound revamp of Lancashire Cricket Club’s Old Trafford base.

The public cash should help Lancashire bring international Test cricket back to the region.

Fierce competition for the rights to stage Test matches has recently seen Old Trafford lose out for the next three years – including this summer’s Ashes series – with the real possibility of never recovering them.

The improvement and modernisation of the ground’s facilities will go a long way to ensuring that Old Trafford regains its place on the International Test Match circuit in time for the 2013 Ashes series.

The agency’s investment will help to support the development of a number of facilities to enable the club to become more competitive in hosting future international cricket matches.

This first phase includes the construction of a new hospitality and events grandstand ; the provision of up to 2,500 new permanent spectator seats; new floodlights, a power upgrade, new outfield and drainage system and a new scoreboard and replay screen.

The investment should be a catalyst for the commercial redevelopment of the adjoining Trafford district centre.

This first phase is part of a wider sports-led regeneration scheme of Old Trafford Cricket Ground and the surrounding area, which aims to bring long term commercial and community benefits to Trafford.

A development partnership, involving Manchester-based ASK Developments, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Trafford Council and Tesco has been formed to drive the project.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “The agency’s investment will help to unlock an important first stage of the cricket ground’s development which would not be able to progress without public sector intervention.

“This would result in the region facing the potential permanent loss of international cricket, and greatly reduce the impact the club makes to the regional economy.

“As well as helping to strengthen the region’s tourism offer by helping to create an internationally-significant visitor destination, importantly this investment will help to safeguard jobs and lever in substantial private sector investment.”

Jim Cumbes, chief executive of Lancashire County Cricket Club said: “We have had an excellent working relationship with the NWDA for many years, and I think it’s fair to say, they were as disappointed as we were when Old Trafford wasn’t awarded an Ashes test match. 

“Since that announcement back in 2006, we’ve been in talks about how we can work together on delivering Test Match cricket at Old Trafford for decades to come. 

“The North West community loves its cricket, and Test Cricket at Old Trafford has traditionally attracted sports-lovers from throughout the UK and the world. Our sports-led regeneration scheme is one of the most complex developments in sports history, but if everyone is as keen, supportive and excited about our plans as the NWDA, then our ambitions will be met in time for the Ashes in 2013.”