A DEVELOPER has claimed it could lose the chance to revamp Essex's County Cricket ground if councillors refuse to grant it more time.
MCD Developments has filed an application with Chelmsford City Council to extend the permitted time limit on its plans for an £85 million transformation of the cricket club, three years after the initial planning consent was granted.
It argues that without the extension being granted there is a risk the long-fought for planning permission could be lost altogether.
If it were to go ahead, the multi-million pound development would see the capacity at the County Ground in New Writtle Street ramped up to 8,000, a new pedestrian bridge constructed over the River Can, and four towers – containing 300 luxury apartments – built overlooking the club.
New shops, bars and restaurants would also surround a square built in the area.
Planning permission for the major works was granted by members back in 2010 but it appears the company initially struggled to secure all the necessary funding for the project, leaving it behind schedule on the work, which had been due to begin early this year.
In a letter to planning officers, Jennifer Price, the company's development executive, said: "Unfortunately this does not leave sufficient time for our contractor to discharge the pre-commencement planning conditions and therefore, after three years of hard work… we risk losing the planning consent, and with it the best chance we have ever had of redeveloping the cricket ground."
For some, however, the application provides an opportunity to readdress prior concerns on the proposals, which were not without controversy at the time consent was awarded.
Resident Sean O'Sullivan said: "I am not opposed to the Essex County Cricket Club being located in Chelmsford. However, the redevelopment proposed with the original planning permission is over-intensive for the site."
"The area, which includes the Cricket Ground, has been treated as one big building site by the city council for the last 20 years. When are 'local' politicians going to deal with traffic and parking problems in New Writtle Street, Upper Bridge Road and the surrounding area?"
The project centres on the total rebuild of cricket facilities at the club, including space for 2,000 new seats, a media centre, a new pavilion and conference facilities.
It is to be funded by the development of the 300 high-spec residential apartments, which will have views over the County Ground, Central Park and River Can.
A date for a final decision on this most recent application from the Birmingham-based developers has not yet been announced but should come before September.
