Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) has unveiled plans to redevelop the famous Park Avenue cricket ground in Bradford.

The £5.5m redevelopment will turn the ground into a state-of-the-art facility with the prospect of it being used to host elite women’s matches, disability cricket and potentially some Yorkshire first team games.

The project will involve the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), YCCC and Bradford Council working in partnership, with five stages of development planned between now and 2019.

The stages include a new £2.5m community pavilion with changing rooms fitted to county cricket standards, a revamp of the existing East Stand, the building of more than 4,000 new seats and a restaurant with a capacity for 250 diners.  

“The aim is to create a first-class ground, but it will be a ground primarily for the community,” said Mark Arthur, Chief Executive of YCCC.

“It’s a unique concept, and would give Bradford national and international recognition for using cricket as a positive vehicle for social inclusion.”

Councillor Imran Khan, executive member for environment and sport for Bradford Council, said: “This scheme will transform Park Avenue cricket ground into a first-class facility for the district, with specialist provision for players with disabilities and ladies’ teams.”

Cricket was first played on the Park Avenue site in 1873 and between 1880 and 1996 it was used for first class cricket by YCCC.

“The plans are exciting for cricket in Bradford, and once the first phase is complete, we are hoping to get 2,000 people a week using the practice facility over the summer months,” added Mark.

“There is history and tradition at Park Avenue, and this is a fantastic opportunity for regeneration in the heart of what is a growth city.”

As part of work funded by Sport England, the ECB targeted Bradford as one of five cities in which to engage more closely with South-Asian communities.