The work will be carried out in phases

Work will start later this year and involve upgrading the New Road end to include a new entrance, hospitality suites, hotel and pavilion.

The ground is located on a flood plain and in a conservation area and there were fears bad weather in March would delay the start of the county season.

The club said the new buildings would be raised above the flood plain.

Banqueting rooms

The current ladies' pavilion, where refreshments are served, is to be knocked down and the existing members' pavilion lifted up and moved onto the site.

It will become the new ladies' pavilion, chief executive Mark Newton told BBC News.

The new members' area will be built on the site of the old pavilion. A media centre and banqueting rooms will also be built.

Mr Newton said the work was expected to take up to three years and would be carried out in phases.

"Despite all the issues of being located in the flood plain and in a conservation area, we have secured the much needed permission which will allow us to create 21st Century facilities for players and spectators without changing the essential ambience of our world famous ground," he said.