Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC) has appointed construction company Morgan Ashurt to build the first phase of a £200m redevelopment of Old Trafford cricket ground.

The initial phase of the project, which has been designed by BDP Architects, includes the creation of a new £12m glass-fronted conference and events facility overlooking the cricket pitch, which will be able to cater for up to 1,000 people.

The first phase of development at the ground will also include the installation of 2,500 permanent spectator seats, new floodlights, new outfield and a new drainage system. The total cost of all the developments for the first phase is expected to reach £15m.

LCCC has been awarded a £2.65m grant by Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) for the scheme, which is part of a bid to win back Test match cricket after the venue lost out to Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium for the right to host an Ashes Test match this summer.

Announcing the funding, NWDA chief executive, Steven Broomhead, said: "The agency's investment will help to unlock an important first stage of the cricket ground's redevelopment, which would not be able to progress without public sector intervention.

"This would result in the region facing the potential loss of permanent international cricket and greatly reduce the impact the club makes to the regional economy."