cricket

Innovation in Play: Designing for Inclusivity

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Innovation in Play: How gcp Chartered Architects Designed the Most Inclusive Cricket Flooring at Headingley Stadium

At gcp Chartered Architects, we believe in constantly pushing the boundaries of sports facility design. Since the 2019 ODI World Cup, we've proudly partnered with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and cricketing counties across the UK to develop the most accessible and inclusive training facilities possible.

Our extensive knowledge, accrued through groundbreaking initiatives like the Urban Cricket Centre Initiative and the Covered Outdoor Cricket Facility Guidance Document, has been directly applied to our latest cricket centre refurbishment at Headingley Stadium for Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).

The Challenge: Designing for Optimal Ball Contrast and Inclusivity

Every cricket centre presents its unique challenges and opportunities for improvement. At Headingley, the coaching staff expressed a specific desire: to have the indoor facility's flooring replicate the authentic colour of a grass wicket.

However, flooring colour in cricket facilities is far more complex than just aesthetics. Optimal ball contrast is absolutely critical for player health and safety. This challenge is further complicated by the diverse range of ball colours used in modern cricket – from traditional red and white to the increasingly common pink for day/night matches.

Recognizing this, our team decided to undertake a comprehensive review of available flooring colours against each ball type. But we went a significant step further. We also seized this opportunity to investigate contrast for individuals with colourblindness, a condition reported to affect approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide. This commitment ensured our design would be truly inclusive.

Our Rigorous Research Process: From Samples to On-Site Testing

Our meticulous research process began by evaluating 17 potential flooring colours, carefully whittling them down to the top 5 most suitable options.

To ensure real-world performance, samples of these five colours were then tested on-site at the Gloucestershire Indoor Cricket Centre. We chose this facility, which gcp also refurbished in 2019, because it boasts a fully compliant ECB TS3 lighting design – a crucial element that has been precisely replicated at Headingley. This allowed us to simulate the exact playing conditions, ensuring accurate and reliable results.

The Optimal Choice: Floor Colours for Unrivaled Inclusivity

Following extensive testing and analysis, the decision was clear: an earthy shade was selected as the most suitable colour for the wicket, closely replicating the look of a grass pitch, while a darker green was chosen for the outfield.

These colour choices have now been installed at Headingley Stadium, providing what we believe is the most inclusive playing surface in the country. This is a significant step forward in ensuring safe, high-performance training environments for all cricketers, regardless of their visual perception.

We look forward to receiving feedback from both YCCC and international players on the impact of this surface. Through further analysis, alongside the ECB, we hope this will become the standard specification for indoor cricket centres across England and Wales.

From Concept to Completion: State-of-the-Art Indoor Cricket Centre

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From Concept to Completion: Headingley Stadium's State-of-the-Art Indoor Cricket Centre is Ready for Action!

Five months on from putting pencil to paper, the brand-new indoor cricket centre at Headingley Stadium stands complete, perfectly timed for the highly anticipated England vs. India test match!

This achievement is a testament to gcp Chartered Architects' expertise in cricket facility design. For over 15 years, we've collaborated closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), developing technical guidance and delivering cutting-edge facilities nationwide. This shared knowledge was absolutely crucial in projects like Headingley's Indoor Cricket Centre, especially given its incredibly tight deadline. Despite the need to have this facility ready for June 20th, gcp successfully integrated the latest learnings from the Covered Outdoor Cricket Facility Guidance Document and our ongoing research projects.

Innovation in Action: Key Design Features

1. Prioritizing Player Safety: A Game-Changer in Access Design

Headingley Indoor Cricket Centre presented a unique design challenge: ensuring safe access to additional rooms directly from the practice area. Historically, this posed a risk of ball strikes when players exited changing rooms. To eliminate this safety concern, the new practice area is bounded by a tension net.

While tension nets offer numerous benefits, they can complicate access. Drawing on our extensive research for the Covered Outdoor Cricket Facility Guidance Document, gcp explored solutions to allow seamless entry without the risk of ball strikes or balls escaping the practice area.

To address the access challenge, we introduced a protected route behind the bowler’s run-up, creating safe and easy entry to Lane 1 without needing to cross Lane 2. For Lane 2, where space was tighter, we designed a specially padded access gate integrated directly into the tensioned net, positioned strategically outside the angle for ball strikes. Crucially, clear lines of sight around all access points ensure safe entry and exit for everyone using the facility.

2. Inclusive Design: High-Contrast and Spike-Resistant Flooring

The flooring throughout the Headingley centre was specified to achieve the highest levels of ball contrast, ensuring optimal visibility for all players, including those with colorblindness. This commitment makes Headingley one of the most inclusive playing environments in the country – a true testament to designing with health and safety at the core.

Beyond the practice area, we specified durable, stud-resistant flooring to ensure safe player access to the 3rd/4th changing rooms. To enhance safety further, we clearly defined a 1-meter "risk zone" around the practice area using a contrasting floor color. While bay nets should always be extended during practice, this visual cue helps identify any residual risks if nets are ever retracted.

3. Future-Proofing Excellence: Ready for Advanced Coaching Technology

Our experience extends beyond elite facilities. In 2021, gcp refurbished the William Perkin CofE sports hall, transforming it into the Wilf Slack Cricket Centre. As part of that project, we developed the most sophisticated lane camera system in the country, allowing for live viewing and recorded playback for coaching sessions.

This unique knowledge has been integrated into the Headingley Indoor Cricket Centre. While not installed yet, the facility is now fully prepped for easy camera installation at any future point. This means that coaches will be able to add high-definition slow-motion playback to analyse every aspect of bowlers' and batters' techniques, ensuring the centre can evolve with the game.

A Collaborative Success Story

We eagerly anticipate feedback from the coaches and players at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC). Their insights will be invaluable as we continue to refine our indoor centre designs, ensuring we best serve the exciting future of cricket in England and Wales.

Special recognition must be given to our key partners on this project:

  • The Operations Team at YCCC: Integral to the project's success, their clear communication and fantastic knowledge of the existing centre and maintenance strategies were truly invaluable.

  • Construction North Group (CNG): The Contractor worked tirelessly with exceptional attention to detail, ensuring this centre achieved the ECB’s technical standards ahead of the England vs. India test match.

ECB Design Guidance Note

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Over the last 18 months, gcp Chartered Architects have led an extensive team of consultants, alongside the England & Wales Cricket Board, to produce a design guidance note for ‘Covered Outdoor Cricket Facilities’. The process involved a significant amount of technical rigour and research, including: consultation across ECB departments, conversations with various other national governing bodies and manufacturer and supplier meetings. All of this to achieve an ‘inside out’ approach offering a valuable new opportunity for those wanting to provide cricket training and playing facilities year-round.

Materplan: Example Urban Scenario

The project began with a team meeting at the ECB’s Covered Outdoor Cricket Facility pilot scheme, Bradford Park Avenue. The meeting allowed the team to analyse the pilot facility in depth, established what was working well and what might need clarification as a part of the technical design guidance. gcp were also commissioned to undertake a photographic study of the facility as a part of the research phase.

Following the Bradford meeting, gcp embarked upon the wider research phase, initially meeting with:

  • Manufacturers, and suppliers of netting, surfacing, structures, canvasses and even bowling machines!

  • National governing bodies for other sports

  • Regional cricket clubs

  • A team of specialist subconsultants which included a civil and structural engineer, an MEP consultant, an accessibility consultant, an acoustician and a building regulations consultant.

Single Lane General Arrangement Plan

Through close collaboration with the ECB Facilities Services team, gcp proceeded to the design and written phase of the project, with each consultant feeding in their own contributions, comments, and expertise along the way.  

The evolved document underwent extensive in-house review from both gcp and the ECB before being released as a culmination of approximately 18-months’ work, including input from dozens of different experts and professionals.

Net configurations

This project is the latest in an ongoing 15-year working relationship between gcp and the ECB, where we have provided architectural and wide ranging consultancy services. We’re extremely proud of the continued relationship with such a prestigious sporting national governing body. We’re also very grateful to the ECB for their continued support. Projects like this are only ever made possible with mutual trust, collaboration, and dedication.

Finally, we are thrilled to announce that the documents are now available to download on the ECB website, here: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4263505 .

Bradford Park Avenue (ECB Pilot Scheme)

Works Commenced: Headingley Stadium

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Works have commenced on site at Headingley Stadium to upgrade their indoor practice facility ahead of the England v India test match this summer. gcp Chartered Architects were recommended to Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to design and co-ordinate the refurbishment works. gcp were appointed at the start of February 2025, prepared the tender pack by the start of March with a view to getting on site at the start of April, and completing the works by mid-June.

The proposals will greatly improve the health and safety strategy for the facility by complying as far as reasonably possible with ECB technical guidance. Learnings have also been taken from our recent technical guidance note for the ECB on Covered Outdoor Cricket Facilities, particularly around the use of tensioned net environments and a considered method of entry and escape through a potential risk zone for inclusive and safe access.

Construction North Group (CNG) have made great progress with the strip out and demolition works. We look forward to seeing progress on site over the coming weeks.

Oxfordshire Cricket and gcp Architects Announce New Partnership

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gcp are excited to announce that we have recently partnered with Oxfordshire Cricket. At gcp, we have a passion for cricket and a reputation for developing the cricket facilities that often sit at the heart of a community. We’re looking forward to supporting Oxfordshire Cricket in their strategic priority areas, which (among others) include: Engaging children and young people, transforming women’s and girls’ cricket and supporting their communities.

You can read more about this partnership here.

#cricket #architecture #design #OxfordshireCricket

Osterley Cricket Club Redevelopment

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Following a devastating fire in 2022, which destroyed most their clubhouse, Osterley Cricket Club appointed gcp to prepare a detailed feasibility study for the redevelopment of their ground just off Tentelow Lane in Southall. The ground is set within the historic and listed landscape around Osterley House. The site is busy throughout the year and is also the home of Cademy FC, a vibrant and successful youth football club with links to many premier league football teams. The feasibility study quickly highlighted that in order to deliver the club’s vision for the site, a comprehensive masterplan was required to allow for a phased redevelopment as funding becomes available.   

 

The preliminary planning stage masterplan design includes a remodelled site with parking improvements and ecological enhancements to support biodiversity, a new clubhouse incorporating the remainder of the fire-damaged changing block, a secondary officials’ block with sensory space, and 3 new practice batting lanes. The planning design is a result of extensive collaboration between the club, the England & Wales Cricket Board and numerous stakeholders including Ealing Borough Council, Sport England, Middlesex Cricket, Middlesex FA, The Football Foundation and specialist subconsultants.

 

The final stage of the planning stage design development is a half day public consultation event at the club on Wednesday 10th July between 12 noon and 7pm. Following feedback received from the consultation designs will be revised and developed for planning submission by September 2024.

Leyton achieves completion - a personal account from Lead Architect, Matt Bonney.

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Building work has recently completed on Phase 2 and 3 of the Urban Cricket Centre in Leyton. gcp Chartered Architects have again worked alongside the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Waltham Forest Council to create this multi-purpose facility for the community of Leyton, complimenting Phase 1 of the scheme that completed during the Cricket World Cup in 2019. 

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The remodelling of these existing buildings reflects the priorities of the ECB's South Asian Communities Action Plan which look to 'focus on youth participation and provide a haven of cricket in the local community'. As well as supporting an international standard indoor cricket facility, the Urban Cricket Centre provides ‘wider societal benefits by providing an accessible space for a range of partners to run community projects'. 

Working with existing buildings provides a series of great challenges/opportunities to fuse a new programme with an existing structure. Constraints often lead to interesting design opportunities which may otherwise not be explored with a new build. Leyton Urban Cricket Centre was no different in this respect and the initial constraints became my favourite aspects of the finished building. 

One key challenge with this design was linking the two existing buildings in a way which extended and improved the circulation routes without overcomplicating the wayfinding. This was achieved by moving the reception closer to the main entrance and increasing the central circulation space, providing a more welcoming entrance with uninterrupted views to the new sports hall link. Expanding the heart of the building created a space for informal interaction which is important for any community building.

Another opportunity presented by the unique layout was for connections between the sports hall and neighbouring classroom. Breaking through the intermediary wall allowed for the classroom to be transformed into a club room with excellent views to both the indoor cricket facility and outdoor pitch. 

My favourite part of this project was seeing Phase 1 up and running whilst working on Phase 2 and 3. It was incredibly rewarding to see the community engaging with the cricket centre as intended. Leyton Urban Cricket Centre is currently operating at a greatly reduced capacity due to the pandemic, however, I hope we have created a facility which will help the community come together and grow once the restrictions are lifted. 

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Bristol County Cricket: a summer of cricket for gcp

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On the 21st April 2019 we were appointed to help Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club deliver Phase 1 of this fast-paced project for England v Pakistan ODI on May 14th. Phase 1 has been designed to improve the existing indoor practice hall with a new configuration of bowling lanes, nets and LED lighting adopting the ECB’s latest format standards encapsulated in their 2019-2023 Inspiring Generation strategy.

The bowling and batting ends have now been switched creating a safer entrance approach to the hall with new padding up and bag drop areas with IT enhanced coaching aids. The new lights are the very first LED, ECB approved installation designed to provide 1500 lux in the practice nets.

gcp worked closely with Ridge & Partners (QS) and Griffiths Evans (Lighting Engineers) and 21st Century Building Services to deliver Phase 1.

Phase 2 (yet to be instructed) would extend the hall allowing the bowlers a longer run-up in line with ECB technical design standards.

gcp are also working directly for the ECB to deliver a new Urban Cricket Centre in Leyton, East London in time for the Cricket World Cup being hosted in England throughout this summer.

Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club

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Located within the grounds of Frenchay Cricket Club, at the bottom of the M32, in Bristol, this scheme has been planned to develop a club room for Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club, which relocated to the site in 2015. The club room is needed to support the growing junior & senior memberships along with increasing diversity of tennis opportunities for all ages, abilities, & disabilities. The Club introduced the use of Clubspark both to manage membership, course bookings, & court bookings, & recently added non member Pay & Play options. The project would enable bad weather coaching to take place in the club room, using video technology as a coaching tool, a dry, warm area for visitors & parents to wait, a social area for all members to enjoy, & provide toilets & a small changing facility.

 

By working with Frenchay Cricket Club, the tennis club have devised a combined ‘off grid’ sustainable foul drainage solution that will serve both clubs.

 

It is anticipated a Planning Application will be submitted in Autumn 2019 after which time the club will prepare and submit capital funding applications to appropriate funding sources which include South Gloucestershire Council Section 106  funds.

Inspiring Generations: Parity in the Game

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Parity in the game = driving up participation

In January 2019, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) unveiled the Inspiring Generations strategy. The strategy highlights key areas within the game where improvements could be made between 2020-24 to increase participation.

Of the six areas for improvement, the ‘biggest growth opportunity’ came from transforming women’s and girl’s cricket. The Inspiring Generations report identified that despite England Women winning the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup in Bristol, 35% of women questioned say “there is no cricket available for them”. Increasing numbers of women and girls are playing cricket recreationally, and whilst the desire exists, the infrastructure is frequently lacking.

In December 2018, gcp were appointed by the ECB to work on the first pilot Urban Cricket Centre in Leyton. The brief for this new cricket concept pilot was to embody the opportunities identified in both the Inspiring Generations strategy and the earlier South Asian Action Plan. One of the challenges facing gcp was to redesign an existing ‘male/ female’ changing facility to accommodate all genders taking account of any cultural sensitivities surrounding changing.

The Leyton Urban Cricket Centre pilot opened in July 2019, providing a new home for Essex Women’s XI as well as training facilities for many local schools and clubs.

First Urban Cricket Centre opens in Leyton

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Leyton County Ground host the first in a series of new Urban Cricket Centres being planned be the England & Wales Cricket Board. Developed in association with the London Borough of Waltham Forest, new £1.7 million facility is the first of three pilots ahead of a roll out of up to create 20 new Urban Cricket Centres in major urban areas as part of the ECB’s 2020-2024 ‘Inspiring Generations’ strategy.

 

The ECB’s six-point strategy to secure the long-term future of the sport in England and Wales seeks to broaden the appeal of cricket to new audiences, transform women and girl’s cricket, inspire through our elite teams and support local communities.

 

gcp worked closely with the ECB on the development of the Urban Cricket Centre concept, before devising a site selection strategy to identify the first Urban Cricket Centre pilot site. The idea behind each centre is to increase the profile of the cricket to residents in city locations and attract greater diversity in the sport at grass roots level. A key element of the project is creating a space for the local community to socialise and engage with cricket in all its forms.

 

The Leyton Ground pilot involved the refurbishment of an existing 1905’s sports hall.  The design and construction of indoor cricket facilities has a focus on the flatness of the flooring; flicker free, high quality lighting and flexible configuration of netting all delivered to the exacting standard defined by the ECB. The aim was to create a first-class cricket centre in East London with the opportunities to play cricket in multiple formats. The project, commissioned in January 2019, was opened by Graham Gooch just over 6 months later, the day after the England vs Australia ODI match at Lords.

Watch Lord Kamlesh Patel bowling to former England batsman Graham Gooch at the opening of Leyton Urban Cricket Club.

The next Urban cricket centre pilots of likely to be in West Yorkshire and Birmingham.

Click here to read about the work we are doing at Bristol Cricket Centre.

Bristol County Cricket: a summer of cricket for gcp

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On the 21st April 2019 we were appointed to help Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club deliver Phase 1 of this fast-paced project for England v Pakistan ODI on May 14th. Phase 1 has been designed to improve the existing indoor practice hall with a new configuration of bowling lanes, nets and LED lighting adopting the ECB latest format standards encapsulated in their 2019-2023 Inspiring Generation strategy.

 

The bowling and batting ends have now been switched creating a safer entrance approach to the hall with new padding up and bag drop areas with IT enhanced coaching aids. The new lights are the very first LED, ECB approved installation designed to provide 1500 lux in the practice nets.

 

gcp worked closely with Ridge & Partners (QS) and Griffiths Evans (Lighting Engineers) and 21st Century Building Services to deliver Phase 1.

 

Phase 2 (yet to be instructed) is would extend the hall allowing the bowlers a longer run-up in line ECB technical design standards.

 

gcp are also working directly for the ECB to deliver a new Urban Cricket Centre in Leyton, East London in time for the Cricket World Cup being hosted in England throughout this summer.

gcp working with the ECB

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gcp are working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), to support the delivery of their recently launched 11-point action plan to better engage with South Asian communities, which aims to diversify the game, remove barriers to participation and use cricket to make a positive difference to society.

Through the creation of the action plan, ECB identified that the most significant barrier to South Asian participation is limited access to cricket facilities in urban areas – where the vast majority of these communities live.  To address this, ECB plans to provide year-round access to facilities, tackling the challenges of availability, quality and cost, by installing affordable community cricket facilities in urban locations where demand is highest.  A key component of this action, is the piloting of three indoor Urban Cricket Centres during the next two years, with the ambition of creating more than 20 Centres over the next five years.

gcp have worked alongside ECB to develop the Urban Cricket Centre delivery model, and Ridge and Partners have worked with gcp and ECB to advise on costs.

This exciting opportunity follows up on gcp’s previous work with the ECB to develop the technical guidance note for indoor cricket facilities.

20+ new Urban Cricket Centres to be developed by 2024