Cricket / Gloucestershire Cricket
Multi-million pound makeover to take county ground to ‘global stage’
Gloucestershire Cricket will embark on a major refurbishment of the players and match officials areas (PMOA) at the Seat Unique Stadium in autumn 2025, ahead of the 2026 domestic season.
The upgrades will bring the facilities in line with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) international standards, “future-proofing” the venue for ICC tournaments, including the 2030 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Supported by the ECB, which is funding a third of the project, the redevelopment will deliver four enlarged dressing rooms, gender-neutral and fully accessible facilities, upgraded physio, sports science, analyst spaces and a refurbished players’ balcony & bridge.
is needed now More than ever
Gloucestershire Cricket will embark on a major refurbishment of the players and match officials areas (PMOA) at the Seat Unique Stadium – Photo: Gloucestershire Cricket/Jacob Hurry
The Jessop Room will also be enhanced for hospitality and player use.
Despite its prestige and pedigree as the ground that was once graced by none other than W. G. Grace – father of modern cricket, and later legends such as Wally Hammond, Tom Graveney, Mike Procter, Courtney Walsh, Jack Russell and Mark Alleyne, the stadium had fallen short of ECB international staging regulations, which kept it from hosting major international tournaments.
The £3.3m refurbishment is designed to meet standards for the match cycle beyond 2031, including T20 Men’s World Cup fixtures in 2030.
England Women will first use the upgraded facilities in May against India, ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, followed by England Men in July. The improvements will also enhance accessibility for disability cricket.
Despite its prestige which was once graced by the likes of W.G Grace and Wally Hammond, Nevil Road had fallen short of the benchmark to host major ICC tournaments – photo: Martin Booth
Bristol-based architects firm, GCP Chartered Architects, experienced in redeveloping major UK cricket venues including Headingley and Taunton, are leading the designs at Nevil Road, having previously prepared a masterplan and worked on upgrades ahead of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Neil Priscott, chief executive of Gloucestershire Cricket, said: “The extensive overhaul of the Players and Match Officials area at the Seat Unique Stadium is a crucial project as Gloucestershire seeks to protect its important status as an international and global tournament venue for the years to come.
“It is an extremely technical development as there are so many facets to it, and we’re grateful for the support of ECB in the planning and part financing of this project.
“We are striving for excellence in all that we do, and delivering world class facilities for all the players, coaches, support staff and officials who visit our ground is a hugely important step to ensure we’re at the top table of English cricket.”
The £3.3m refurbishment will begin in autumn 2025, ahead of the 2026 season – photo: Martin Booth
The club will go out for tenders for the project from Monday.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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