Blueprints to reshape the future of Uptonsteel County Ground will be considered by a city-based consultancy firm ahead of a multi-million-pound project launch in 2024.
Leicestershire County Cricket Club have announced a working partnership with Pick Everard, experts in architectural and commercial developments. The multi-disciplinary consultancy has 15 offices nationwide with its headquarters based in Leicester.
The working arrangement follows nine months of detailed planning by the Club and its stakeholders and will see two preferred options for the first phase of a £60m redevelopment come under the spotlight.
The first phase of the project will centre on the area surrounding the Melton Building Society Family Stand, located near the manual scoreboard. Details on the proposals are yet to be finalised, but providing health and wellbeing facilities for the community and city are high on the priority list.
Sean Jarvis, Chief Executive, said: “The partnership with Pick Everard brings the redevelopment of the stadium one step closer and is the culmination of months of planning and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
“The focus of phase one will be on the commercial aspect of this project. We have several proposals on the table and Pick Everard have been appointed to assess each of them; coming back to us early in 2024 with recommendations for their preferred option.”
Talks are continuing between the Club and local universities in readiness for latter phases of the ambitious project that aims to bring an ‘Academy of Cricket’ to the ground. It is proposed that the academy would deliver the world’s first MBA in cricket management.
Alastair Hamilton, Partner at Pick Everard, added: “As a multi-disciplinary consultancy who specialise in the built environment, our ethos is based on making the extraordinary a reality, and this project has all the hallmarks of something that will deliver lasting value for Leicester communities. We look forward to working with Leicestershire County Cricket Club on this exciting journey.”
