Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (GCCC) has been handed a boost after planning officials at the local authority backed plans for a major renovation of the County Ground, Bristol.

Two planning applications submitted for the redevelopment of the club's Nevil Road venue - due to be considered on 10 March - have been recommended for approval by officers at Bristol City Council (BCC). The council's development control (north) committee will determine the fate of the proposals, which include increasing the County Ground's seating capacity by 4,000 to 20,000 and the creation of a new media centre.

Improved conference and hospitality facilities, an upgraded BS7 fitness club to include a swimming pool and enabling development of accommodation units for 350 students form part of the scheme. The redevelopment has been designed to meet England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) standards for hosting international matches and help to secure the long-term future of the venue, which has been used by GCCC since 1888 and has hosted one day international fixtures since 1999.

GCCC chair Rex Body said: "It is difficult to stress the importance of the proposed developments to our long term future in Bristol, not only for the county team and the club as a whole but also for our surrounding community. "We have also worked particularly hard to design in transport and access measures which we believe will actually improve the traffic situation for our immediate neighbours and the wider locality."