NEW proposals for a 120-bed hotel and redevelopment to a part of Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s picturesque ground have been submitted to city planners.

If given the go-ahead work to build a Premier Inn hotel along with new club facilities including a conference centre, new ground entrance, a supporters bar, executive suite, new seating, turnstiles and toilets could start in the autumn and could all be ready by the end of 2013.

The scheme previously stalled as the club struggled to secure funding but that issue appears to have now been resolved.

David Leatherdale, chief executive of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, was unavailable for comment but in a statement submitted to the city council from Walsingham Planning on behalf of the club and hotel chain it said the scheme is of vital importance to the long-term future of the cricket club but added it will also be of benefit off the field.

“The public benefits also relate not only to the cricket club in terms of the enhancement of its facilities but also to the city as a whole in terms of the provision of much-needed visitor accommodation together with investment in the local economy and new jobs,” said the report. The budget hotel, which would form a part of the four-storey, L-shaped building with an undercroft, would create 38 new jobs in the city and any rooms enjoying views of the ground will have Juliette balconies.

The restaurant and bar will be able to cater for up to 136 people at any one time while the current pay and display car park will be remarked to cater for up to 120 vehicles with six disabled spaces.

However, three trees will have to be cut down to make way for the development that will also provide 668 new seats for spectators.

Planning permission for a similar scheme was previously granted in 2009 but permission to carry out the work is due to expire this summer which is why a fresh application has been submitted.