Redevelopment update

The redevelopment is in full swing and progress is continuing at a rapid pace ahead of the new season. With six weeks until the first home game of the season, Mike Hill, Project Director, gives us the very latest on developments at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.

The main entrance to the ground, on Old Dover Road, is still closed off. The reduced level excavation to the newly formed entrance square and new Club offices is now underway. The sub base for the roadway in from the Old Dover Road Gate is now complete and it is hoped that this area of work will be completed in the next few weeks.

Four floodlights have now been fully constructed and the lighting head structures have been fitted. The final floodlight will be winched into position later today (Tuesday). Following this the aiming of the lights and the installation of wiring and operating equipment commences.

Construction of the new hard standing area for Sky Sports vehicles (and year round parking), adjacent to the outdoor sports pitch, is now virtually complete with concreting nearing completion.

The steel frame that will form the entrance to the Chiesman pavilion is complete and things are progressing as planned, shortly this area will be closed in with work on the stair well starting soon.

Roof tiling is progressing nicely on the additional storey of the player’s dressing room area and the scaffolding at this level has been removed. The tiling on the front of this building will be complete in the next couple of weeks.

Scaffolding has been erected to the area around the Les Ames building and external repair works have started. This includes cleaning and restoring the scoreboard. The re-cladding of this building is a major piece of work that is going to commence shortly.

The Cowdrey building is almost complete. The staircase in the Cowdrey building has been refurbished and the old cricket equipment shop has been transformed into a new meeting room. The Club shop, adjacent to the entrance to the Cowdrey building, is now stocking replica clothing, match tickets, cricket kit and equipment and has reopened.

The Club’s new website is carrying a picture timeline of the redevelopment project. You can see more by clicking on the following link http://www.kentcricket.co.uk/watch-and-listen/photos.