Demolition ensures cricket all out

The Birmingham Post has reported Homes in way of £30m Edgbaston cricket scheme face demolition as the City Council's Cabinet Committee (Property) meets on Thursday 25th to discuss a Compulsory Purchase Order on behalf of Warwickshire County Cricket Club to secure sites to enable the partial redevelopment of Edgbaston International cricket stadium.

The council is ready to ask the government to approve a Compulsory Purchase Order, allowing it to buy 12 properties on the Pershore Road, to enable the cricket ground's plans for it's ground improvement and development of 250 flats and houses, offices and hotel.

Most of the buildings are empty, but three remain occupied and the club has been unable to reach an agreement to purchase the houses.

WCCC chief executive Colin Povey said: “We have had several good meetings with the residents’ liaison group set up to cover the stadium development.

“Of the three remaining properties on Pershore Road, I believe that two land owners would be happy to enter negotiations, but one owner has indicated she doesn’t want to sell at any cost.

“We are trying to progress this as sensibly and sensitively as we can.”http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2010/03/23/homes-in-way-of-30m-edgbaston-cricket-scheme-face-demolition-65233-26088293/

The approval of the redevelopment plans for the stadium saw the England and Wales Cricket Board confirm that subject to delivering the stadium improvements Edgbaston would retain its test match status with a number of tests allocated for tests up to 2016. To enable the redevelopment the City Council approved a £20 million loan, with the first £1 million of this advanced on 29 June 2009 and further £1.2 million on 18 January 2010. The mixed use scheme, which the CPO will provide the land for, is part of the long term financial business plan for the Cricket Ground.

Demolition work has progressed, Edgbaston Drive's ahead, with preparation work on the site of the new stand underway.
Images of the demolition and preparation work from Friday 19th March are shown below: