PLANS for the current home of Stroud Cricket Club to be turned into housing were approved yesterday, Tuesday July13.

Stroud District Council Development Control Committee heard the proposals for the replacement of the cricket ground and clubhouse in Farmhill with 77 residential terraced and semi-detached homes, including 23 affordable houses.

The homes will be fitted with renewable energy elements including solar panels.

Farmhill has been home to SCC since 1850 but the club had agreed a £1m deal to sell the site and relocate to a larger space in Ryeford.

SCC's home, just off the Ryeford Industrial Estate, is big enough for two cricket fields, extended parking as well as a new purpose-built pavillion.

However, it is designated as a protected outdoor playing space, which would normally preclude it from being turned into a space for non-sporting activities such as housing.

But Sport England decided not to make any objections because there would be no net loss of playing facilities with SCC moving to Ryeford.

In a statement they said that the proposals will ‘create significant social, community and economic benefits to Stroud and he wider area.

Tony Elliott-Cannon, Chairman of Stroud Cricket Club, said: "We are very pleased that both sets of plans have been approved.

"We have grown out of the old site in Farmhill.

"When we moved there in 1850 we were surrounded by fields, but now we have houses on three sides with Stratford Road on the fourth.

"It is only a matter of time until we smash a few windows.

"We are pleased to be moving to Ryeford, which will give us three times the space and the second pitch will mean that our youth team can play alongside us.

"Weather permitting we hope to lay the new cricket squares by September for the pitch to be ready by springtime next year."