Wragge & Co specialists secure green light for Warwickshire County Cricket Club £30 million redevelopment

Wragge & Co's real estate experts have secured the green light for Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC) to begin the £30 million redevelopment of its home ground in Edgbaston.

Set to increase spectator capacity to 25,000, the redevelopment includes construction of a new stand on the south side of the ground, a new banqueting suite and members' area, upgraded players' facilities and development of the surrounding land for mixed use.

Commercial development partner Robert Caddick led a cross-firm team completing the agreements, supported by construction, banking, property and planning experts. The team also advised on creating innovative funding structures that secured vital funding from both Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands. The team worked closely with Turley Associates, Rider Levett Bucknall UK Ltd and Savills, Birmingham.

Robert Caddick said: "This is a hugely significant project for the Club. Cricket venues throughout the UK compete to host test matches, so WCCC needs to ensure its facilities will be first class in order to win international matches. The Club has faced enormous difficulties in getting the project off the ground and it needed the all-round support and expertise offered by our cross-firm team to realise it. It is great to be involved in delivering what I have no doubt will be one of the best cricket venues in the country."

Phil Macdonald, project director, said: "This project is a great example of partnership between organisations wanting to deliver a brighter future for the area. We are creating world class facilities in Birmingham which will draw the best teams and the most exciting cricket to Edgbaston. In turn this will bring economic benefits to the region. We could not have achieved this without the excellent advice and support of our professional team including Wragge & Co."

The proposed redevelopment had been the subject of a judicial review, with an application made by a group of local residents who opposed the project. Wragge & Co's planning specialists successfully advised WCCC on the issue, with the application subsequently refused by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Wragge & Co's 10-partner Commercial Development team advises UK and international developers and investors on a range of acquisitions, developments and disposals. Its 28 experts are supported by more than 100 real estate specialists, offering a full service across the entire commercial property sector. Highlights from the past six months include assisting Highbury Holdings, a subsidiary of Arsenal Football Club, on the £41 million sale of apartments at its Highbury Square development and advising Birmingham City University on the outsourcing of facilities management for its new £8 million sports centre.