Kent County Cricket Club has today confirmed that Canterbury City Council approved a £1.5 million loan to the Club at a meeting of the full Council on Thursday evening.

The Club had been in discussion with the Council since last summer about the possibility of a loan that will part fund the on-going second phase of redevelopment at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.

The first phase of the Club’s redevelopment work at the St Lawrence Ground has been funded largely from the proceeds of sales of land for housing, and an initial loan from the City Council.  Already, there has been an enhancement of conference facilities, dramatic improvements to player and spectator areas and the installation of high quality retractable floodlighting.

The current phase of works on a new Club building includes a Sainsbury’s Local convenience store, new Club offices and three residential flats.  This is due to be completed in the spring.

Kent Cricket CEO, Jamie Clifford commented; “Canterbury City Council has been tremendously supportive of the Club in realising the vision for the St Lawrence Ground.  I am delighted that we will now be able to conclude the current phase of the redevelopment programme.

“The support from the City Council is helping us in our desire to create a long term, financially stable future in Canterbury – with a ground everyone can be proud of.  This news, coupled with the recent signing of a long term deal with Sainsbury’s leaves the project in very good shape.  The final piece of the jigsaw is the development of a 130 bedroom hotel, and discussions on this are progressing well too. ”