The ‘final piece in the jigsaw’ in bringing back a famous old sports field into use has been given the go-ahead.

Councillors on Worcester City Council’s planning committee approved the heart of Worcestershire College's application to build a new pavilion on the Cinderella sports ground off Bransford Road in St John's.

But the new building makes no attempt to recreate the look of the old 'rustic' pavilion, which is still onsite and starting to become very dilapidated.

Discussions about removing the building and transporting it to Avoncroft Museum in Bromsgrove continue.

One concern was raised by Councillor Alan Amos, who feels the land should be used by local nearby residents as well as the college's sports teams and local community clubs.

He said: "The land is surrounded by two very large social housing estates where there is little open space. There are not many places for youngsters to kick a ball around in the area, and I think we should have allowed this."

The council's legal officer Georgina Coley said that wasn't possible in the agreement which allowed the authority to lease the ground, when it gave permission for houses to be built on the next door factory site.

Councillor Jo Hodges said: "I'm really sad to see the old pavilion in such a sad state. This is a historic ground where WG Grace played, so I'm glad to support this plan to bring it back into use."

The new pavilion will be a much plainer 'box' construction - a single storey with a covered terrace. It will also be in a different position from the old one – it has been decided to move it from 'behind the bowler’s arm' – the original is in the sight-line of batsmen at one end of the pitch.

But to mark the site of the old building there will be a commemorative feature of a raised brickwork plinth with brickwork blocks emerging from the plinth at different heights.

The Cinderella ground was the first home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club and was the sports and social ground for Kay's employees until the business closed in 2007.