Approval granted for Old Trafford expansion

Plans to create the largest cricket venue outside of London have been approved.

Trafford Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the building of a new 1,025-seat stand at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s (LCCC) historic Emirates Old Trafford ground.

The expansion plans will also see the ground’s hotel extended and a heritage centre and new club shop built. The club hope work will be completed in time for the 2023 Ashes series.  

The new stand, which will replace the Red Rose Suite, will increase the ground’s overall capacity to 26,700, making it England’s third-largest cricket venue, behind Lord’s and The Oval in London.

The plan replaces one previously approved by Trafford Council in 2019, which would have seen the capacity increase to 29,500.

LCCC Chief Executive Daniel Gidney said the plan was part of a decade-long £60M redevelopment of the ground, which is being undertaken so the club could continue to host major competitions, matches and events.