Lord's members to give their views on redevelopment plans

The 220-year club plans a redevelopment of its cricket ground that could include a residential scheme as revealed in Property Week (23-03-07).

It has this week sent a questionnaire to all its 22,000 full and associate members to help establish their views on a range of possible improvements which will form part of the strategic masterplan for Lord's.

The masterplan will include the potential for commercial development to pay for an increase in capacity at the club.

The improvements detailed in the questionnaire include the creation of a purpose-built museum, the development of an indoor school and Cricket Academy, and the increase in the ground's capacity, to between 35,000 and 40,000.

The club expects future improvements to be funded by a combination of debenture seat income and some residential development on the ground's edges subject to planning consent.

David Batts, MCC's deputy chief executive, said: ‘This is the biggest-ever consultation process in MCC's long and distinguished history. Its scale reflects the importance that we attach to developing the best possible masterplan for the long-term future of Lord's. MCC's Members need to play a key part in that process; after all, it's their club and their ground.’