Beckenham Redevelopment Project Advances at Pace
Wednesday 29th January 2014
Peter Wilson (Leander Sports & Leisure), Andrew Braddon (Chairman, Leander Sports & Leisure) and Jamie Clifford (CEO, Kent Cricket)
Work at Kent County Cricket Club’s second ground at Beckenham is now well underway, with ground work for the indoor school complete. With the prospect of a facility complete by the Autumn of 2014 this early progress is encouraging.
Speaking at the ground on Friday, Jamie Clifford, the Club’s Chief Executive Officer, confirmed all was moving to plan; “The contractors, Galliford Try, are pleased with progress so far and despite the challenging weather conditions the programme has not slipped dramatically”.
“It is very exciting that this long talked about project is now moving ahead, and it is wonderful to think that before the end of the year the Club will have such a magnificent facility from which to run Cricket, at every level, in the north of the County. I am particularly grateful to Leander Sports and Leisure for their continued support as we work towards the creation of a true centre of excellence”.
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 ground capacity. Works underway also include 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. In addition, new offices, a floodlit AstroTurf football pitch, two hard standing tennis courts, and car parking complete the ambitious developments of 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.