Lord’s Cricket Ground submits application for renovation

The Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is one of the most iconic cricket stadiums in the world. With its rich history and plethora of incredible matches, the Lord’s has earned its name over the years, not just in England but in the whole world. First opened in 1818, the Lord’s Cricket Ground quickly became one of the most sought-after venues to play cricket.

In a major development for the venue, the stadium has submitted an application to renovate with an eye-catching new roof, stands, and top-floor bar. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns the ground, submitted an application to Westminster City Council to demolish and replace the Allen stand and entirely redevelop the Tavern stand.

The early designs show the stadium transformed with a new roof for the Tavern Stand. Furthermore, new tiers will be added to the stands. The Allen Stand, built in 1935 and the oldest at Lord’s, will be rebuilt with a new bridge, which will link it to the pavilion. 

Also Read: Brisbane to ditch 'too expensive' $2.7bn Gabba rebuild in favour of new $3.4bn stadium

The bridge will also be moved up a floor, meaning it will no longer lead to the players and the match officials’ area. An extra 1,107 seats will also be added at the site, which will increase the venue’s capacity to 32,287.

The stadium could be ready in time for the Ashes 2027 and will reportedly cost around £60 million. The discussion for the same was held with the residents nearby and the community as well. The application was filed back in December 2023, and a council officers' report recommended the application for approval.

The application will be seen over by the councillors at a planning committee on Tuesday, April 16. Furthermore, the proposal will mark the latest stage of the 200-year-old ground’s transformation and will be the first since the redevelopment of the Compton and Edtich Stands, which were opened in 2019.