Latest vision of £15m cricket ground unveiled (From Worcester News)

Latest vision of £15m cricket ground unveiled

7:10am Friday 10th July 2009

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Exclusive By Jack Blanchard »

THE latest vision of the £15 million redevelopment of Worcestershire’s New Road cricket ground is today unveiled – but heritage groups are voicing opposition to the scheme.

A revised set of plans for the second phase of the famous county ground’s redevelopment, including the construction of a 120-room hotel, new entrance area and car parks, will be ruled on by Worcester City Council’s planning committee at a crucial meeting next week.

And a new report reveals city planning chiefs are recommending the scheme be approved, despite strong opposition from key local and national heritage groups.

The Worcester Civic Society, English Heritage, the Inland Waterways Association and the city’s advisory body on conservation areas have all lodged objections, complaining the hotel’s “modern” and “simplistic” design is not in keeping with England’s most beautiful county cricket ground. The council’s own conservation officer, meanwhile, describes the design as “one-dimensional” and needing “more animation”.

It has now emerged such criticisms led the plans to be revised back in April. The proposed hotel has been reduced in height by one storey, and the entrance modified – but the heritage groups have not withdrawn their objections.

Despite such concerns, however, top city planner John Wrightson is recommending the scheme be approved.

In his report, Mr Wrightson agrees that a “high-quality design” is “critical” for a site in such a sensitive position, describing the ground’s celebrated views across to the cathedral as “a vital asset” to both the club and the city.

And he notes that “the important views will be maintained” if the hotel is built as planned.

In his conclusion, Mr Wrightson rejects criticism of the design, stating that “the use of quality materials and a contemporary design will preserve and enhance the character of the riverside.”

The first phase of the ground’s redevelopment – a new pavilion named after legendary former player Graeme Hick – was completed earlier this year.

If the phase two plans are approved, the club hopes to start work early next year, with the new Premier Inn hotel ready for the start of the 2011 season.

Speaking to your Worcester News, club chief executive Mark Newton stressed the importance of the hotel scheme to the club’s future.

He said: “We are determined to maintain the tradition of the club on this site, but we have to create 21st century facilities.

“This will give us security in this location – everyone is aware of how much we lost in the floods of recent years.

“I understand the concerns, but we have to create something that’s practical to operate, and so the most important thing is something that’s affordable.

“It’s important to stress we’ve just completed phase one of the scheme, the Graeme Hick pavilion, which is also a very contemporary design. There were concerns about that, but now it’s completed we’ve heard only praise.”

Mr Newton stressed the ground’s famous views will be maintained and pointed out the benefits to the city of having a new city centre hotel.

But in a letter to the Worcester News, the chairman of Worcester Civic Society’s development committee, Richard Lockett, described the designs as “characterless”.

He wrote: “Budget constraints should not be allowed to dominate on a site where only highest-quality design is acceptable”.

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