Leyton Cricket Centre | London

Client: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

Value: £1.7m

Services provided: Feasibility Study, Planning Stage Design, Master Planning, Public Consultation, Planning Application, Detailed Design

Pilot scheme for the ECB’s Urban Cricket Centre Programme in East London.

Following gcp’s work for the ECB developing the concept for the Urban Cricket Programme, the former home of Essex Cricket in Leyton was chosen as the first pilot after an extensive site selection process designed and delivered by gcp.

The scheme is central to the success of the ECB’s Inspiring Generations Strategy 2020-2024, and was designed to empower local communities to play the game in a way and at times that suit them. A project delivered in phases to ensure initial refurbishment in time for the 2019 World Cup.

Phase I of the project refurbished the 1950s sports hall and changing rooms to provide four practice lanes and an arena for indoor and tape ball cricket. The scheme, designed and delivered in only seven months, required extensive detailed planning early in the process to ensure construction could progress unhindered.

Phase II saw the creation of complimentary facilities including a club room, dance studio and classrooms through the refurbishment of an adjacent educational building. Together Phase I and II form the Leyton Urban Cricket Centre.

Phase III, developed as part of wider site masterplan works, involved redesigning a boxing gym and associated changing rooms to provide fully accessible ECB / Sport England compliant changing facilities. The refurbished building is now home to former featherweight champion boxer, Barry McGuigan’s gym.