Images: Edgbaston
Birmingham City Council has granted planning permission for a major redevelopment of Edgbaston Stadium that will include a new on-site hotel.
The £42m (€50m/$52m) project will also include the transformation of the current Priory and Ragland Stands into a single stand. A planning application was entered in November and the project has received approval today (Thursday).
Work on the project is expected to start in September, and it is hoped the redevelopment will be ready for the men’s Ashes Test against Australia in 2027.
The council’s decision follows detailed consultation with stakeholders, including residents and Warwickshire members, with no formal objections put forward. The project has been supported by West Midlands Combined Authority with a loan of up to £18m.
The proposed 146-bed Radisson Red hotel will include a rooftop terrace, pitch-view rooms with balconies, and other rooms that can be converted into hospitality boxes with external terraces to watch matches.
Edgbaston, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, announced Radisson as its hotel partner in July last year. It is estimated that around 60,000 people will stay at the site each year.
The redeveloped stand will have a slightly bigger capacity than the existing Raglan and Priory Stands. It will include a new concourse with enhanced food and drink options, as well as improved facilities for disabled supporters.
Edgbaston currently contributes around £35m to the local economy every year, and it is projected that the new hotel development will increase this to over £40m. More than 376 jobs are expected to be created during construction, with another 100 following the completion.
Craig Flindall, Edgbaston strategy director, said: “We’re grateful to Birmingham City Council for approving the plans and for sharing our vision to bring increased economic and social benefits to the region through international sport.
“Cricket will always stay at the heart of our thinking. But it’s important we develop a stadium that operates all year round, supporting new jobs in this part of the city and creating wider community opportunities.
“We are creating a mixed-use destination that will combine elite sport, conferencing and events and residential and hotel accommodation with community facilities that will improve education, employment and social cohesion in the area.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “Edgbaston is a world-class venue and this redevelopment, backed by our investment, will ensure it continues to attract top-tier international cricket, thousands of visitors every year, and even more jobs for local people.
“Our region is home to a number of globally celebrated sports teams and venues. By supporting them to grow, we shore up our place on the international stage, bringing visitors, investment and jobs now and into the future. It’s what I want to see for the West Midlands – growth that ensures everyone can benefit.”
The project is the latest development in the Edgbaston Masterplan to transform the stadium into a multi-use sports, residential, commercial, and community complex.
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