TAUNTON | The County Ground Redevelopment | 15,000 | U/C

25478 Views 59 Replies 15 Participants Last post by CharlieP, Jan 26, 2022

ben77

Discussion Starter · May 13, 2008

I noticed this the other day and thought it might be of interest. Looks like it will be a really high quality development if it all goes through. It involves rebuilding most of the ground with 2 new areas being built currently. One is a large new stand with boxes and the other is a small seating/terracing area being built on land reclaimed from the grave yard at the side of the ground!

http://www.somersetcountycc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StadiumDev

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CharlieP

· #2 · May 13, 2008

Very interesting - plans for the ground seem a lot different to the proposals in this document I found a couple of years ago:

http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/Forms/LocalPlan/04bTauntonUDF.pdf

CharlieP

· #3 · May 13, 2008 (Edited)

PS The Somerset site has a link to a webcam, but it only supports 20 viewers at a time(!). The County Ground will be on Sky Sports 2 on 14 June when Somerset host Warwickshire - it'll be interesting to see what it looks like...

JamesWales

· #4 · May 13, 2008

Well you would have to be deluded to think anything other than that those plans look very impressive!

Reading the article in full, it seems that phase 2 may be a long term plan, but the first phase, with those flats behind look pretty unique.

I'm not sure on the wider project title though: PROJECT TAUNTON.

CharlieP

· #5 · May 13, 2008

It sounded quite sinister when you mentioned a "seating/terracing area built on land reclaimed from the grave yard", but from the description on Somerset's website it sounds as though it's been planned quite intelligently and sensitively - the land grab was necessary to extend the playing area so that Taunton is eligible to host international matches, and the seating area will be a low-profile viewing area giving improved views of the church, and will act as a memorial area for Somerset CCC.

Note to Zim Flyer - to me this will be far more of a landmark cricket ground development than a load of blue seats on concrete...

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JamesWales

· #6 · May 13, 2008

I'd rather blue seats on concrete than white seats on a drawing board mind..

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ben77

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 13, 2008

CharlieP said:
It sounded quite sinister when you mentioned a "seating/terracing area built on land reclaimed from the grave yard", but from the description on Somerset's website it sounds as though it's been planned quite intelligently and sensitively - the land grab was necessary to extend the playing area so that Taunton is eligible to host international matches, and the seating area will be a low-profile viewing area giving improved views of the church, and will act as a memorial area for Somerset CCC.

Yeah i was trying to make it sound a bit spooky but in reality it looks as though it might be a great idea. Extending the boundry of the ground, memorial area (apparently he was the Botham of his day) and opening up views of the church.

Zim Flyer

· #8 · May 13, 2008

CharlieP said:
Note to Zim Flyer - to me this will be far more of a landmark cricket ground development than a load of blue seats on concrete...

I wouldn't be so sure of that Charlie.

The best bit of the new ground isn't going to happen due to a funding shortfall:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/somerset/7317350.stm

and the bit they are building doesn't look as good under close examination. Check this render out, notice the big gap between the seats and the building, basically it's a load of flats and not a complete stand as the front render suggests. So you will get aload of white seats on concrete with a giant retirement home behind it:

Where as Glamorgan have a ground bringing in more money and in so doing will pay for planned extensions in the future.

Zim Flyer

· #9 · May 23, 2008

ijkl806 you dopey spammer, if you are going to spam a thread, choose one that is popular, may I suggest the Glamorgan Cricket thread :laugh:

What do they teach you guys at spam school.

Jaeger

· #10 · Jun 3, 2008 (Edited)

It will be a good county ground and possible ODI, but in terms of Test Grounds we already have an abundance.

There are nine test match grounds now that the Rosebowl and Cardiff have test match status, and this will become ten if Gloucestershires County Ground in Bristol joins them (see link).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/gloucestershire/7254595.stm

The St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury also has big plans, as do Sussex at Brighton and Essex have just unveiled a massive redevelopment as it's Chelmsford Ground.

Chelmsford Redevelopment - http://www.essexcricket.org.uk/newscentre.php?iframe=news01-a.html

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/d...entPK=20751958&folderPk=107992&pNodeId=231031

There have even been calls for the new London Olympic Stadium to be used for cricket after the 2012 Games.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/352816.html

A Further interesting Article regarding Test Grounds -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/22/scmain122.xml

RMB2007

· #11 · Jun 6, 2014

New Cricket Pavilion at Somerset County Cricket Club, Taunton

LED Architects were invited by SCCC to take part in a limited design competition for a new pavilion building at The County Ground in December 2012. Based on a simple, yet elegant interpretation of a ‘traditional’ pavilion, LED Architects’ design was selected as the winning scheme and subsequently developed into a set of detailed proposals that form the basis of the current planning application.

http://www.ledarchitects.co.uk/dram...ilion-at-somerset-county-cricket-club-taunton

The intention is to commence the build at the end of the 2014 season and once completed the Somerset Pavilion will also bring the ground to the standard required to host International cricket. The thrilling prospect of One-day International cricket in Taunton will bring pleasure and pride to both Members’ and cricket fans as well as substantial benefits to the local economy.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...ciBx83WTklmJRoVXRekwdaA&bvm=bv.68445247,d.ZGU

CharlieP

· #12 · Jun 6, 2014

I think I like it, but it would be far better to see it in context rather than with the surrounding stands removed!

Dobbo

· #13 · Jun 6, 2014

CharlieP said:
I think I like it, but it would be far better to see it in context rather than with the surrounding stands removed!

Agreed - it does need to fit in with the general layout of the ground.

surveyingsteve

· #14 · Jun 6, 2014

Looks like quite a busy design. What is the elevated terrace on top of the flat roof? I think it would have better if they just continued the third tier the full length perhaps.

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CharlieP

· #15 · Jun 6, 2014

surveyingsteve said:
What is the elevated terrace on top of the flat roof?

That's what I was wondering. It looks like a giant cot!

I think it would have better if they just continued the third tier the full length perhaps.

Yes, but by the looks of things the broadcasting facilities are in the new pavilion, so it couldn't be a full copy of what's on the left-hand side.

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surveyingsteve

· #16 · Jun 6, 2014

Looking at it again perhaps its the gantry where the cameramen stand? Think Edgbaston has something similar at one of its ends on top of the cooperate boxes.

I think its a shame the broadcasting facilities couldn't have been incorporated beneath the third tier.

I agree this proposal needs to be shown in a drawing in relation to the rest of the ground and surroundings.

CharlieP

· #17 · Jun 6, 2014

surveyingsteve said:
Looking at it again perhaps its the gantry where the cameramen stand?

You could be right, but you'd think they'd have put the cameras on the roof and used that space for something else.

Dobbo

· #18 · Jun 6, 2014

surveyingsteve said:
Looks like quite a busy design. What is the elevated terrace on top of the flat roof? I think it would have better if they just continued the third tier the full length perhaps.

If the third seating tier could be continued the other side of the media room to make it symmetrical that would be a good move (budget and space permitting).

CharlieP

· #19 · Jun 6, 2014

There's no space to do that - to the right (west) of the new pavilion is the graveyard of St. James's Church. Unless you mean only continuing the third tier, and have it dramatically hovering over all the tombstones

RMB2007

· #20 · Feb 27, 2015

@SomersetCCC:

https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC

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