Kent County Cricket Club and Leander Sports & Leisure have been granted full planning permission for the development of the Club’s Worsley Bridge Road ground at Beckenham.

Following the news, it is anticipated that work will commence in early December.

The development will dramatically enhance the cricket facilities at the Beckenham Ground, and will include an indoor cricket school to be built to ECB Academy standards, as well as a new spectator stand for 2,000 that will increase capacity.

The development also includes physiotherapy treatment rooms, along with a gym and Pilates studio, and a conference and banqueting area to seat 160 people, with bar and kitchen facilities.

New offices, a floodlit AstroTurf football pitch, two hard standing tennis courts, and car parking complete the ambitious developments at the site.

Following completion of the new multi-million pound facility, which will be built by Galliford Try Plc, the Club will enter into a 20 year lease.

In addition, negotiations continue with regard to two other buildings – a health and leisure facility and a conference centre.  It is hoped that these developments will also happen in the near future.

Kent Cricket CEO, Jamie Clifford commented on the announcement; “I’m delighted that full planning permission has been granted and we can now press ahead with the construction phase of the project. The Club has for a long time wanted to develop its London base, and I look forward now to seeing a high quality cricket venue in Beckenham.

“In addition to the potential it presents for hosting matches, it will also become a centre of excellence in a key part of the county.  Our new indoor centre will provide us with a wonderful base from which to identify and develop young players. I would like to put on record my thanks for the support of the local community, Leander Sports & Leisure, and Bromley Council for their support in bringing the project a step closer.”

It is anticipated that construction will start before Christmas 2013, and that the project will near completion by the end of 2014.