Kent details plans for Beckenham ground

Kent County Cricket Club has revealed that its County Ground stadium in Beckenham, London has been identified as a potential venue for an expansion franchise in The Hundred.

The County Ground is one of two stadiums used by Kent, with the other being the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering an expansion of The Hundred from eight to 10 teams in 2025. Kent chief executive Simon Storey believes the club is at the “heart of the debate” as the ECB reportedly considers adding a third team in London.

Writing in his spring update on the Kent website, Storey addressed a recent report in The Telegraph which claimed that the club had gained planning permission to increase the capacity of the County Ground from 6,000 to 10,000. The report also said the stadium could act as a secondary venue for a London-based team in The Hundred.

Storey moved to clarify that no planning permission has been granted, and stated that Kent’s intention would be for the County Ground to host its own franchise in The Hundred.

“As an existing site of 24 acres in South East London, Beckenham has been identified as a potential venue for a third London team in The Hundred,” Storey said.

Kent has 11 years remaining on its lease at the County Ground and the club has been working to identify a route that would give it long-term security of tenure.

Storey added: “Given the active debates and in the light of progress on the security of tenure question, the board are now actively considering how investment in the County Ground, Beckenham could help secure Kent a long-term place at the top table of English cricket and importantly secure the futures of both The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury and the County Ground, Beckenham.”

The Hundred currently features two teams based in London, with franchises also located in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Cardiff.

Kent is not the only county cricket team considering a stadium project. In December, Gloucestershire Cricket announced that it was considering leaving Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium and is exploring opportunities for a new stadium development in South Gloucestershire.

Last year, Lancashire County Council approved Lancashire Cricket’s planning application for a new venue that can host community and elite sport. The proposed development would be located on a site in the village of Farington that is owned by the council.