MCC unveil Lord`s revamp scheme

London: The latest phase of the `Masterplan` redevelopment of Lord`s was unveiled on Friday with a scheme to replace the "tired" Allen and Tavern stands in the south-west corner of the self-styled `home of cricket`.

Marylebone Cricket Club, owners of the celebrated ground in north-west London, intend to build a single new structure in their place with more than 5,500 seats -- taking the overall capacity to nearly 30,000.

Planning permission and the approval of the MCC`s membership are still required, but if officials get the go-ahead the scheme will also see the building of a new Tavern pub, enlarged dressing rooms in the pavilion and a "more pedestrian-friendly entrance to the ground", via the Grace Gates.

MCC chief executive Derek Brewer said: "The south-western project will ensure facilities for players, match officials, supporters and MCC members are of the highest possible standard by modernising areas of the ground that have become tired.

"MCC is committed to maintaining Lord`s as the finest cricket ground in the world, and this project also provides a wonderful new front door to the home of cricket."

A completion schedule for all the work, with MCC operating on a projected budget of £80 million ($120 million, 111 million euros), is the English spring of 2019 -- in time for the World Cup and Ashes series.

It is forecast the remainder of the `Masterplan` redevelopment may take a further three years to be completed.

The redevelopment of Lord`s has proved controversial, with former British Prime Minister and lifelong cricket fan John Major resigning from the MCC committee in 2011 after plans for an all-embracing £400 million scheme to increase the ground`s capacity, funded mainly by the building of luxury flats at the Nursery End, was abandoned on cost grounds and a more piecemeal approach adopted.

Last year saw the bicentenary of the current Lord`s ground, with MCC itself established in 1787.

Although it is more than 40 years since MCC ceased to run English cricket, it retains worldwide responsibility for the sport`s rules, or Laws as they are known.