Taylor Woodrow has completed the first phase of the redevelopment of The Oval.

Following completion of the first phase of the £25m regeneration project, the venue now holds 11,500 seats and has hospitality facilities for 600 people. The developer handed the venue temporarily back to Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) on 10 August, in time for the ground to host the fourth Test mach between England and the West Indies.

The second phase of the development, which will complete the project and see the construction of the new Vauxhall End stand, will begin in October and is expected to be ready in time for the 2005 Ashes.

As part of the second phase, the ground will receive an aerofoil curved roof structure, which spans a quarter of the width of the ground as well as new media and conferencing areas.

Mark Lebus, project director, said: “10 August was a date we had been looking forward to a long time. It is fantastic that the site has been handed back over to us on time.

“We will now look forward to the remainder of the international cricket season this year and then completing the Vauxhall End next year.” Details: www.surreycricket.com