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The rail tunnel running underneath Lord’s |
Cricket bosses have a tunnel vision
Disused rail line underneath Lord’s could become coaching school in £200 million revamp
A DISUSED railway tunnel could be transformed into an underground cricket school as part of the £200 million revamp of Lord’s.
The tunnel, formerly part of the Marylebone to Aylesbury line which runs below the Nursery End of the famous ground, has also been touted as an underground car park to ease the congestion chaos that plagues St John’s Wood on match days.
Other suggestions for the site include a banqueting hall, a real tennis court or even a new railway station so fans can walk directly into the ground.
The proposals, that aim to increase the ground’s capacity to 40,000 with five new stands, will be considered by the Lord’s Masterplan Architect, when they are appointed in June.
As part of the redevelopment brief, the architects will also consider constructing apartments, a hotel or hospitality facilities in the stands.
A shortlist of five architects, including Herzog de Meuron, who designed the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, were announced by the Marylebone Cricket Club on Tuesday.
The other four are BDP, who masterminded the redevelopment of the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, David Chipperfield Architects, the group behind the America’s Cup building in Valencia, designers of the Royal Opera House Dixon Jones, and award-winning Glyndbourne architects Hopkins.
A special committee chaired by Sir John Egan, the former chief executive of BAA and Jaguar, will weigh up the proposals before seeking approval from MCC members. The club aims to submit plans to Westminster Council in September 2009.
Sir John said: “I am delighted to be involved in a project that will deliver major long-term improvements to Lord’s.
“The panel has a wide mix of expertise from architecture to development and, of course, cricket. I am confident that our recommendation for the selected architect will deliver the very best for the sport’s home.”
Running 38 metres beneath the ground, the tunnel was acquired from Railtrack 10 years ago.
The MCC is redeveloping Lord’s in order to ensure that the ground retains the honour of holding the second test match of the summer in light of new staging agreements being drawn up by the England and Wales Cricket Board. |
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