Gloucestershire County Cricket Club plans submitted to Bristol City Council

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's plans for a major revamp of its Bristol home have been submitted to the city council.

The club wants to redevelop the County Ground to create a 20,000-capacity stadium, with the project partly paid for by building student accommodation on the site.

Some residents have protested at the plan for student flats and questioned whether a ban on tenants parking within a mile of the site could be enforced.

The club says reaction during the consultation process which followed the announcement of its plans led to the number of student homes being cut by 200, from 550 to 350.

It says it will now look for alternative funding to make up for the shortfall.

In a statement yesterday, the club said: "We have received some very positive feedback to our plans from the majority of those consulted.

"Their input has helped to shape proposals that will enable Bristol to continue to compete with cities across the UK as a destination for world class sport.

"These proposals are crucial to retaining our One Day International status beyond 2011 and essential for the future viability of the Club.

"We have hosted international matches at the County Ground since 1999 and have recently announced that we have secured an international match for 2011."

Also included in the plans are a new media centre for journalists and broadcasters covering matches, improved conference facilities, an upgraded public gym, including a swimming pool, which could also be used by City of Bristol College, and an educational facility for local school children to take part in cricket-related programmes.

The club also hopes its improved facilities would help the County Ground to be a potential training site if Bristol were named as a host city for the 2018 Football World Cup.

In July, the club invited its members and 2,500 neighbouring households to view its plans at public exhibitions and comments submitted led to the drawing up of revised plans, which went on show last month.

Bristol City Council must now list the application for consideration by a planning committee within 13 weeks.