AN £85 MILLION regeneration of Essex County Cricket Club is set to transform the face of Chelmsford city centre.
These images show what the area south of Central Park will look like once the project is completed.
The transformation will see the capacity at the County Ground 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 will also surround a new square built in the area.
"It's been a long, hard slog but I'm delighted that the club are in a position to take the project forward," said former Essex County Cricket Club chief executive David East, who stepped down two weeks ago, after ten years in the job.
Planning permission was granted in 2010 and, after a lengthy design-phase, building work could begin as early as spring next year.
Mr East, who worked on the development since 2003, told the Chronicle that it would transform the area around Central park and secure the future of the cricket club in Chelmsford.
"This is a hugely important project that will transform Essex Cricket Club and regenerate the heart of the city centre," said Mr East, who has taken a similar job in the United Arab Emirates.
The project centres on the total rebuild of cricket facilities at the club, in New Writtle Street, including space for 2,000 new seats, a media centre, a new pavilion and conference facilities.
It is funded by the development of the 300 high-spec residential apartments, which will have views over the County Ground, Central Park and River Can.
But the new conference facilities and coffee shops and bars surrounding a new public piazza will provide much-needed revenue to the club.
The development will be linked to the city centre by a new pedestrian bridge over the River Can.
"The cricket club facilities and the public facilities were looking a bit old and tired. We needed to bring the ground up to scratch," added Mr East.
The first phase of the project is expected to begin early next year, with work to start on the smallest of the towers, which holds 62 apartments.
Two other towers, both overlooking the park and river, will soon follow.
The majority of the apartments in the smallest tower have already been sold and the largest of the two towers, the closest to the ground, is currently only available to members of Essex County Cricket Club.
Leader of Chelmsford City Council Roy Whitehead said: "Our job as councillors is to encourage development in the right place and we are pleased that the project has got to this stage."
For more information, call developers MCD on 0121 265 2030, e-mail birmingham@midcity.co.uk or visit www.midcity.co.uk
