Major plans lodged for Edgbaston Stadium

Plans have been lodged for a new 3,191-seat stand and 146-bed hotel at one of Birmingham's biggest sporting venues.

They would see the current Priory and Raglan Stands at Edgbaston Stadium replaced with a new facility and a hotel, with more than half of the rooms having a view of the pitch.

Those behind the scheme said the proposals were part of a larger redevelopment that aims to create a destination combining "elite sport, conferencing and events" with community uses.

New trees have been planned, along with a hotel coffee shop and restaurant/bar that would be open on non-match days.

But on days of games, access to the hotel's restaurant/bar would be restricted to those who had a ticket or hospitality access, a planning statement said.

The document, on behalf of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said 58% of hotel rooms would be "pitch view" and a gym was proposed.

It said: "Provision of new trees will enhance the setting on the stadium into the surrounding 'leafy' Edgbaston suburb and its neighbour - Cannon Hill Park."

A design document, included within a planning application to the council, said "associated spectator areas such as the multifaith space and hospitality boxes are to be included in the new design".

Hospitality boxes would be integrated into the proposed four-star hotel and there were plans for a roof terrace providing views of the Birmingham skyline, it said.

Earlier this year, Edgbaston Stadium received a funding boost from the West Midlands Combined Authority in its bid to develop a hotel and spectator stand.

Stuart Cain, Edgbaston chief executive, said at the time cricket would "always stay at the heart of our thinking".

But he added it was important to develop a stadium "that brings new jobs to this part of the city" and creates wider community opportunities through the hotel and an expanded conferencing and events business that sits alongside sport.

The cricket club and the project design team said they held a number of engagement events before the application was lodged and reached out to residents, local ward councillors, businesses and others.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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