Edgbaston Stadium has been granted planning permission by Birmingham City Council for a major ground redevelopment project that will include a new on-site hotel.
Members of the Planning Committee unanimously approved the £42-million pound scheme and work is expected to start in September and be complete in time for the men’s Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston in 2027.
The proposed 146-bed Radisson Red hotel will include a rooftop terrace, pitch-view rooms with balconies, and other rooms that can be converted into hospitality boxes with external terraces to watch the match action. It is estimated that around 60,000 people will stay at the site each year.
And the redeveloped stand – which will have a slightly bigger capacity than the existing Raglan and Priory stands – will include a new concourse with enhanced food and drink options, plus improved facilities for disabled spectators.
Craig Flindall, Edgbaston Strategy Director, said: “We’re grateful to Birmingham City Council for approving the plans and for sharing our vision to bring increased economic and social benefits to the region through international sport.
“Cricket will always stay at the heart of our thinking. But it’s important we develop a stadium that operates all year round, supporting new jobs in this part of the city and creates wider community opportunities.
“We are creating a mixed-use destination that will combine elite sport, conferencing and events and residential and hotel accommodation with community facilities that will improve education, employment and social cohesion in the area.”
Edgbaston Stadium currently contributes approximately £35 million to the local economy every year and projections from the new hotel development increase that to over £40 million.
It’s expected the project will create more than 376 jobs during the construction period and another 100 post completion, adding to the 1,000 jobs the stadium already supports locally.
The decision follows detailed consultation with stakeholders, including residents and Warwickshire Members. No formal objections were received by Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee.
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has supported the project with a loan of up to £18-million.
