The committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) recommends adoption of an updated masterplan that effectively rules out the building of residential flats at the Nursery End of Lord's.
The plan follows feedback from members and advice from the club’s principal committees. Members voiced an overwhelming opinion that residential development should not be considered at Lord's. They will be asked to approve a resolution about the current recommendation at a special general meeting, to be held on 27 September.
The committee recommends that the next ground development project at the will be the replacement of the Compton and Edrich stands, with work set to begin in late 2019. The updated masterplan includes further construction, with phased starts from 2021 and final completion in 2032. Planning permission is in place for a series of projects (link opens in new tab).
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MCC’s 18,000 Members will be asked to approve this and each component part of the Updated Masterplan, as it evolves, and once planning permission has been granted by Westminster City Council.
After the completion of the first stage of the MCC Masterplan earlier this year, which resulted in the opening of a new £25m Warner Stand, the replacement of the Compton and Edrich stands – projected to be completed in June 2021 – would lead to an increase in the Ground's capacity, improved facilities and better circulation for spectators.
MCC chairman Gerald Corbett said: "Today's decision by the MCC Committee provides clarity on the extremely important and often controversial subject of ground development. Put simply, the Club can afford to develop the Ground using its own resources and it will do so in the coming years without the need for enabling residential development.
“The Morley scheme, with flats at its heart, was considered by the Committee to detract from the ambience and special feel of Lord’s, as well containing a number of operational, security, execution and planning risks. Moreover the Club’s advisers were unable to recommend the proposed commercial terms.”
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