Trent Bridge will have a distinctive new look when work is completed

The club is seeking planning permission for a new stand to replace the West Wing and Parr Stand on the Bridgeford Road side of the ground.

Notts hope to start work at the end of the 2007 county season and it will increase overall capacity to 17,500.

"It's vital that the project goes ahead if we want to retain international cricket at Trent Bridge," said chief executive Derek Brewer.

The work will transform the ground

"There is now intense competition from other venues wanting to stage England matches, and the ECB have set high standards which we are determined to exceed.

"We have to prove to the ECB that we are still striving to upgrade facilities - and boost the capacity - and the exciting programme we have planned will take this venue to the next level."

Trent Bridge first staged international cricket in 1899 and is the world's third oldest ground.

For many years it was one of only six regular Test venues in England - the others being Lord's The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Headingley.

But Durham's Riverside home joined the list three years ago, Glamorgan have been awarded an Ashes Test in Cardiff in 2009 and Hampshire are pressing for Test recognition for the Rose Bowl.

Notts hope to have the new stand ready for use in 2008 and are now investigating ways of raising the necessary finance for the project, a "big task" according to Brewer.

But he added: "Our record for filling the ground on big occasions is incredible. People want to come to Trent Bridge to watch top class cricket and we have a duty to do all we can to satisfy the demand."