Land leased to create county cricket academy ground

West Northamptonshire Council agreed a 125-year lease for a new cricket ground at New Manor Farm in Moulton

A new cricket ground for Northamptonshire's academy, women's and disability sides is a step closer after the local council granted a 125-year lease of farmland.

West Northamptonshire Council's (WNC) cabinet agreed the lease of New Manor Farm in Moulton to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (NCCC) on Tuesday night.

Local residents told the BBC the plans came as a complete surprise and they raised concerns about the ground's impact.

WNC leader Jonathan Nunn stressed "this is nowhere near a planning application", but added there was "an opportunity for a really good facility".

The chairman of NCCC, Gavin Warren, said the club was committed to starting full engagement with the community.

Plans for the site include senior and junior pitches, an indoor cricket school and car parking

In its proposal to WNC, which owns the land in Moulton, NCCC said it wanted to "create a new state-of-the-art cricket facility to complement its existing headquarters at Wantage Road and dramatically increase its impact on the Northants community".

The new facility, costing an estimated £13m, would include two first-class standard pitches, outdoor practice areas, a pavilion, an indoor academy, temporary stands and parking areas.

The site would initially be fitted with one stand, with capacity for 2,000 spectators.

First-class men's matches would remain at Wantage Road.

The club said the lease being granted marked "an exciting milestone in a project that we've been working on for some time".

Mr Warren said: "We need to ensure that we invest in our facilities so we can increase opportunities for everyone to play, and expand the club's reach into communities across Northamptonshire and surrounding counties."

Catherine Pearson (far left) and Szilvia Orritt (second from right) said they were shocked by the news

However, Cottingham Drive resident Catherine Pearson said she only heard about the proposals through BBC News online.

"I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't see where [the club] is going to fit it and what the benefits to us were," she said.

"We hadn't heard anything at all. Nobody has talked to the villagers or the surrounding areas at all."

Szilvia Orritt lives on Oundle Drive, two streets away from the proposed ground, and said she was also unhappy.

"I will lose nature, I will lose neighbourhood spirit, I will lose quietness," she said.

"My major bugbear, however, is the lack of consultation."

Sol Haven - an award-winning community farm - backs on to New Manor Farm.

Co-owner Natasha Caton said traffic and fans travelling to matches would disrupt the calm the farm provided.

Natasha Caton said Sol Haven's ambience would be ruined by a cricket ground on the doorstep

Mr Nunn said: "The first time you'll hear about anything like this might be a surprise, might be a concern, whether you hear it through a neighbour, whether you hear it through social media, whether you first get the planning letter.

"This is nowhere near a planning application. Something needs to start some sort of firing gun on something happening.

"I think ultimately there is an opportunity for a really good facility here. We have to make sure that it's a good neighbour as well as a good facility."

Mr Warren added: "We're very lucky in the town to have three professional sporting clubs and also within the Shire we have Silverstone, so we should be very proud as a community.

"What you will be assured of is you will have full communication and transparency from the cricket club, because this is good for the town."

Men's first-class cricket will remain at Wantage Road