Redevelopment of Lancashire Cricket Club moves another step forward

Lancashire Cricket Club has been given the go-ahead to for a new 1,000-seat grandstand and a 100-bed extension to the adjoining Hilton Garden Inn hotel. It is part of the Old Trafford club’s bid continue its long-established history as a venue for Test matches. It has hosted county and international matches for more than 160 years.

Following the demolition of the club’s Red Rose Suite, the new grandstand will increase the ground’s capacity from 21,877 to 22,500 along with new hospitality and Red Rose facilities. The Hilton Garden Inn currently has 250 beds, 135 of which overlook the famous cricket pitch.

There will also be more retail, a club museum, a new ticket office, and a members and sponsors lounge and terrace on the first floor. This will also be accommodated in a six-storey building with the hotel extension sharing facilities such as the reception area and dining facilities via a first-floor link.

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The initial planning application was approved in 2021, but there have been a number of detailed amendments, the latest of which was for the demolition of the Red Rose Suite and seating and the realignment of Brian Statham Way, new public realm and landscaping. A design and access statement first submitted in 2021 said: “Continued improvement of facilities at Emirates Old Trafford is central to maintaining a competitive edge in the process of hosting the very best international cricket.

“Elements of the proposed redevelopment of the Red Rose Grandstand and hotel seek to further enhance the facilities at the cricket ground to support this goal.” A report by planning officers said that the redevelopment would need the