The Kia Oval, English international cricket venue and the home of county outfit Surrey, has received full planning permission for a project that would see the venue’s capacity increase to 28,000.
The redevelopment of the Lock Laker Stand, which will see the construction of a new three-tier structure, is part of the Oval’s longer-term plans to make the ground the largest in the UK. The club announced its intention to raise the stadium’s capacity to 40,000 in June 2017. Currently, Lord’s has the largest capacity of any cricket venue in the UK.
The Lock Laker Stand renovation is set to begin in October 2019, immediately after the conclusion of the 2019 cricket season, during which the venue will host five matches from the ICC Cricket World Cup. The Oval is also to continue its tradition of hosting the final Ashes Test, with the game to take place from 12th to 16th September.
Additionally, the One Oval Square development next to the ground’s pavilion will also take place, with the revamp set to incorporate additional capacity and facilities, as well as conference, event and hospitality space.
The work is expected to take a year and a half, with construction to be completed before the start of the 2021 season.
Surrey chief executive Richard Gould said: “Receiving planning permission for this new development is fantastic news for the club as we continue to improve all aspects of the Kia Oval. It will add a significant number of extra seats, alongside new facilities to further improve people’s experience when they watch cricket here.
“As evidenced by the thousands of new members joining our club – and the record-breaking number of Ashes tickets sold to members in the last ten days, the demand to watch world class cricket at the Kia Oval has never been stronger.”
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