Edgbaston makeover agreed by planners

A £30 million redevelopment plan for Edgbaston cricket ground has been given the go-ahead, after meeting with the approval of Birmingham City Council despite opposition from local residents.

Capacity at Edgbaston will be increased to 25,000 under the proposals, in a development that will include floodlighting, conference facilities, a hotel, housing and offices. Fourteen homes will be demolished to make way for the new development, which is expected to be completed by 2011.

Colin Povey, Warwickshire's chief executive, said: "We recognise that this wasn't an easy decision for the planning committee and thank them for their support. Our new ground, and the enabling development, will generate thousands of new jobs and help to secure international cricket for the next generation."

Had the plans been rejected, Warwickshire could have been forced to move to an entirely new home to meet new ECB guidelines. The deputy leader of Coventry City Council, Kevin Foster, had invited the club to visit a potential site close to the Ricoh Arena, the home of Coventry City FC, but in the end such drastic measures were not required