Redevelopment update – part one

At the end of last month, Kent captain Rob Key cut the all-important first sod of the club“s ground redevelopment programme and it“s been all go ever since.

New retractable floodlights, a two-storey dressing room block, pristine members“ facilities in a refurbished pavilion and a new club shop are the initial stages of this winter“s St Lawrence refurbishment scheme.

Mike Hill is Project Director and in the first of our redevelopments interviews, he gives us the very latest on developments at Canterbury.

Mike, what has happened since the groundbreaking ceremony?

The building works are going well. Our housing partner, Bellway Homes, has been on site each day and is making good early progress. In the past few days, the team has started to clear lots of soil and things are quickly progressing. The club“s building contractor, Cardy Construction, have started to clear the site, they have put up fencing and started to strip out the inside of the pavilion. They are getting ready for when things begin in earnest.

How is the ground expected to look at the commencement of next season?

Well that is a tricky question to answer because it will depend on our rate of progress between now and then. In an ideal world, we are looking to have better facilities for the players, a new access road, a new Nackington Road entrance plus a refurbished pavilion and annex. We also aim to have refurbished the Harris Room and upgraded most of the toilets. There will also be a new scoreboard so plenty to look forward to at the start of next season.

What is the plan of action – i.e. in what order are the contractors working on things?

Further details of sequencing, for the remaining work, will be crystallised in next couple of weeks. But, rest assured, the machines are on the move. We will keep members and supporters fully up-to-speed on developments and will carry regular reports of redevelopment activity here on the website. We will also take lots of photographs, which will be available for people to look at – both on the website and at the ground.

Picture:Sarah Ansell