The construction of the spectator stand at the Brit Oval – providing 11,500 seats and hospitality facilities for 600 people - represents a £25m total investment by Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC). Taylor Woodrow will now vacate the site, but return to complete the second phase of redevelopment of the stand, at the Vauxhall End of the ground, in time for the Ashes in 2005.
The second phase will see the construction of the aerofoil curved roof structure which spans a quarter of the width of the ground, the press and media areas, community education facilities and completion of the hospitality and conferencing services, all built on four floors.
Mark Lebus, project director, said: “The 10th August is a date we have been looking forward to a long time, it is fantastic that the site has been handed over to us as they promised it would be. The project has proved a challenge, but the partnership with Taylor Woodrow has been strong allowing us to overcome the obstacles which inevitably arise when the deadline is so tight.
Consideration for neighbours has been a high priority during the construction of the stand, with heavy work taking place only between certain hours. Ninety per cent of work on has been off-site, meaning that segments of the stand have been pre-fabricated and then lowered into place on site.
