A DECISION is being made today on plans for a �2.1million project to improve facilities at a sports ground in Bury St Edmunds.

A proposal for a major revamp of facilities at the Victory Sports Ground, off Nowton Road, is going before St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Development Control Committee.

The plans are for a cricket pavilion with sports hall and changing facilities with new access for South Lee School and Bury St Edmunds Cricket Club (BSECC).

Among those benefiting from the redevelopment would be the cricket club and pupils from school who would use the sports hall.

Project chairman David Barker, who is also president of BSECC and a governor at South Lee School, said: “I just think it’s a fantastic project for Bury St Edmunds. It will greatly enhance cricket in East Anglia.”

Planning officers have recommended the plans for approval.

Their report said: “The proposed development will provide much-needed high quality sporting facilities which will benefit the school as well as local clubs and the community.”

The sports hall and cricket pavilion would be in a single building located centrally along the Nowton Park frontage with parking to either side enabling open views over the existing pitches and courts. There would be 95 car parking spaces, as well as six disabled parking spaces.

The sports hall would be able to accommodate four badminton courts and would have four changing rooms which would also be for those using the outdoor tennis courts and football and croquet pitches.

The sports hall would include toilet and changing facilities for staff and the disabled, a first aid room and equipment stores to name a few.

Paul Whittaker, chairman of BSECC, has said: “It’s going to dramatically improve the facilities at the Victory Ground, allowing visitors and players to watch cricket on both pitches from the same building.”

He added how the current facilities were very outdated so the improvements would provide users with a much better experience.

The borough council agreed to transfer the ownership of the Victory Sports Ground to a consortium of partners, including Victory Sports Ground Ltd, BSECC and South Lee School, at the end of last year.

Funding for the project is coming from a range of sources, including the groups which would be using the new facilities.