Residents object to the cricket club developing in its parkland setting

The club said discussions with the council had been "very positive".

A council report suggests the adjacent Welsh Institute of Sport could move to the new �700m sports village in Cardiff Bay to allow Sophia Gardens' expansion.

However, some residents have said they are concerned at the idea of the ground expanding into neighbouring parkland.

Glamorgan cricket club needs to expand its Sophia Gardens ground if it is to compete with its English counterparts for the chance to host five-day international cricket matches.

A capacity of up to 17,000 is seen as a pre-condition of any approach to the England and Wales Cricket Board to bring Test cricket to Cardiff.

The ground's current capacity is 5,500.

They have a concept of an international sports village and moving the Sports Council for Wales and the Welsh Institute of Sport in there would give it huge credibility Huw Jones, Sports Council for Wales

However, Glamorgan's planning bid has opposition from residents groups which object to the proposed development in the parkland setting.

On Thursday, the council's executive board agreed all the recommendations in a report by the local authority's corporate director, Tom Morgan, that the council back the idea of bringing Test cricket to Cardiff, and take a step towards possible financial support of the club's plans.

Relocation

Cardiff's council leader and its chief executive had earlier agreed that council officials would work with the cricket club to "develop a master-plan approach" so Sophia Gardens could become a potential venue for international cricket from 2009.

One recommendation was that the council approaches the Sports Council for Wales over moving the organisation to the planned sports village in Cardiff Bay.

The sports council's chief executive, Dr Huw Jones, said he had received no formal approach about the idea - which he took to mean relocating the Welsh Institute of Sport, currently on a site adjoining the cricket ground.

Dr Jones said he would consider any plan which improved sporting facilities in Cardiff.

He said: "At the moment it's nothing more than in idea. It's not even a proposal.

"They have a concept of an international sports village and moving the Sports Council for Wales and the Welsh Institute of Sport in there would give it huge credibility."

Peter Cox, editor of the website Hit It For Six, which lobbies against the cricket club's plans, said Cardiff council's recommendations suggested plans that were "far in excess of anything Glamorgan cricket club have applied for".

'Aspirations'

He said: "I think moving sports facilities to the bay is a terrific idea - especially if it frees up Sophia Gardens for its original purpose, as parkland.

"The park has heritage listing status. Sophia Gardens is also a conservation area. If we are talking about taking down old buildings, we should be talking about more appropriate parkland use of the site, not putting up with more car parking or more buildings."

Glamorgan County Cricket Club chief executive Mike Fatkin said: "The discussions we have had with the council have been very positive. There is a willingness on their part to help us with our aspirations.

"Obviously there is a lot of advantage to the local economy, especially from the city's point of view with the football moving away from Cardiff."