The £50million designs for two spectacular new stands at Lord’s cricket ground that will add 2,500 seats were unveiled on Wednesday.
Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns the St John’s Wood “Home of Cricket,” said the three-tier replacement Compton and Edrich stands will expand capacity from 9,000 to 11,500 and could be completed by 2021.
The new two stands - named after two of Middlesex and England’s most successful ever players - form the latest stage of the masterplan for the world’s most famous cricket venue.
The new additions to the Nursery End of the ground will provide around a quarter of spectators sitting in them with cover from the rain and will connected by a new walkway. There will also be new catering and toilets. The middle tier will be reserved for debenture holders and will also have new restaurants.
Drawings of the designs by architects WilkinsonEyre were put on private display for MCC members during the recent Test Match against Pakistan. Today is the first time they have been made available to the public.
A planning application will be lodged with Westminster council in the Autumn, and if approved, work is expected to start after next August’s Ashes Test against Australia. The first stage will be ready in time for the 2020 season with all work completed for 2021.
MCC chief executive and secretary Guy Lavender said:”These new stands will transform the Nursery End, providing world class facilities, opening up views both to the Pavilion and back towards the Nursery Ground and adding another architectural enhancement to Lord’s.”
