An impression of how the Rose Bowl will seat after the �45m development

Hampshire have been granted planning permission to begin the �45m development of the Rose Bowl, which will increase the capacity by 5,000.

The plans include the construction of two new stands and a 175-bedroom hotel, while the existing nine-hole golf course will be expanded to 18 holes.

Chairman Rod Bransgrove told BBC Radio Solent: "This decision is good news for the Rose Bowl and English cricket.

"It represents one more important step towards a truly world-class stadium."

The ground's current combined capacity of permanent fixed arena and temporary seating for big games is 20,000.

Rose Bowl plc group managing director Glenn Delve added: "I would like to thank the members of Eastleigh Borough Council for approving our application.

"It allows us to move to the next stage in the development of this fabulous stadium, a facility which will bring enormous economic, social, sporting, and community benefits to Eastleigh and South Hampshire in general."

Hampshire moved to the Rose Bowl in 2001, and it has since hosted nine one-day internationals - including five in the 2004 Champions Trophy, and two Twenty20 internationals.

The ground was awarded provisional Test match status by the England and Wales Cricket Board in November 2006, and could host a Test in 2010.