Major works planned at Trent Bridge cricket ground's pavilion to ensure future of Test matches

Plans to safekeep Nottinghamshire’s iconic Trent Bridge cricket ground by overhauling its pavilion have been brought forward. Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has applied to partially demolish and extend the world-famous Trent Bridge ground’s Members’ Pavilion in order to keep its status as a Test match venue.

The club has said that without improvements, which include upgrades to player and official facilities, the future of major match allocations for 2025-2031 would potentially be at risk. Planning documents submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council argue that despite the ground’s international prestige, the current pavilion has “long failed” to meet the standards required.

Planners explained the space and quality of the building, which dates from the 1880s, and level of wheelchair access fell significantly short of the expectations of the England and Wales Cricket Board, which is the governing body of the sport. The ground’s oldest building and most significant heritage asset had been negatively impacted by previous changes and additions, they added.

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The project aims to future-proof the pavilion, which is presently in a poor condition and has “significant maintenance issues”. Whereas the current structure is three floors, the improved one would be six floors and have a basement level, allowing for the more spacious facilities needed for the increasing size of teams and their support staff.

Fully unisex changing spaces and an ability to accommodate teams, training staff and officials of both genders within the facility concurrently, is also planned. The proposed facility will also be the first in the country to offer a four-team split of changing facilities that are fully self-contained for double header matches.

Creating spaces for player and match official welfare, as well as more space for kit and equipment, has also been said to be an important consideration. In planning documents, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club said the ECB were “highly satisfied with and supportive of the proposals”.

To realise the club’s ambition, “significant levels of demolition” would be needed to make the space for the proposed new-build areas. The pitch-facing elements, which are the original parts of the building, would be preserved but more recent rear extensions would be demolished.

A site visit and meeting was arranged with key planning and conservation officers from Rushcliffe Borough Council ahead of the plans being submitted, which gave the authority a chance to examine the condition of the building and understand the development needed, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club said. The organisation added the continued hosting of Test matches at the ground, for which the redevelopment was needed, brought millions of pounds in economic benefits to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

In a planning document, Letts Wheeler Architects on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, said: “Although the building will undergo a significant amount of demolition and expansion much of this will occur in areas that have already been substantially altered from the original design, with key features having already been lost. However, the level of alteration and expansion would constitute a level of ‘less than substantial harm’ in conservation terms.

“Set against this are the clear and obvious public benefits of the proposal. Firstly, providing the facilities that will enable Trent Bridge to retain its status as a major venue for international cricket, with all the benefits this brings to the area. Secondly, retaining the Pavilion’s historic role and significance in the ground and creating a new landmark building, which restores the pavilion to being the primary architectural focus at the Ground.” The planning application is pending consideration by Rushcliffe Borough Council.