Nottingham City Council (NCC) has unveiled plans for a new npower Urban Cricket facility in Sneinton after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) included Nottingham as one of five UK cities to benefit from the scheme.

A multi-use games area will be built in King Edward Park, designed specifically to allow young people to learn and practice cricket skills, as part of a wider scheme that will also see urban cricket zones set up in five local school playgrounds. Funded entirely by energy company npower through the ECB, the council was awarded a grant of £80,000 for the development of the new urban cricket arena last September. Meanwhile, an additional £45,000 will be made available directly to schools involved in the scheme for the creation of the urban cricket zones.

Work is set to get underway later this month, and is scheduled to be completed in May. NCC will be responsible for the maintenance of the arena, which will form part of the grassroots project set up in 2006 to increase the number of young people playing cricket. NCC portfolio holder for culture, leisure and communities, Dave Trimble, said: "The npower Urban Cricket facility at King Edward park will really benefit the area. Not only will it improve sport facilities in the area and encourage young people to play cricket, it will also help children and young people lead more active lifestyles."