Edgbaston's �30m revamp approved

The club had said it might move if the plans were not approved

A £30m revamp of Edgbaston Cricket Ground has been approved.

Birmingham City Council agreed to plans to build a new stand at the Test venue, as well as a development with housing, offices, a hotel and shops.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club, which owns the Birmingham ground, had said the redevelopment was necessary in order to host England internationals.

Objections were raised by residents who claimed the revamp would increase noise and traffic levels.

Twelve homes in Pershore Road have been earmarked for demolition to make way for the new development.

Capacity increased

As well as the hotel and residential development the club wants to build a new pavilion and stand and increase the ground's capacity to more than 25,000.

The council had received 500 letters of objection to the scheme, mainly on the grounds of noise and extra traffic. A petition with 1,200 names on it was also handed in.

Coventry City Council offered the club the option to buy land near the Ricoh Arena to build a new ground if the Edgbaston redevelopment had fallen through.

A final decision on the plans will be made by the government.

Angela Dabrowski, who has campaigned against the plans, said: "The idea of chasing prestige, and I don't regard this as particularly prestigious, is just being taken to an extreme.

"At a time of recession, it's outrageous that these kind of boys' games can be played with people's lives."

The cricket club's chief executive, Colin Povey, said: "The design that we've worked to is very specific for the Edgbaston site.

"(It) is specifically geared to minimising the light spillage, the height of the poles and those particular aspects that we know are of concern to those people living closest to the ground."