Club had proposed to redevelop two stands but failed to agree price with original contractor Graham
The Marylebone Cricket Club has chosen Byrne Group subsidiary FB Ellmer to build a new stand at Lord’s.
It decided to let the Allen stand rebuild as a single stage, fixed-price job after it failed to agree a figure for the work with original contractor Graham.
Graham had been lined up to redevelop both the Tavern stand and demolish and rebuild the Allen stand. The project had an estimated cost of £60m.
But last September the MCC said Graham’s figure “considerably exceeded the sum” agreed with members.
Now it has written to members asking them to approve a deal with Ellmer worth £23.5m at a special general meeting on 21 July.
Designed by Wilkinson Eyre, the work will see the stand’s capacity increased by 190 to 806 along with bars and washrooms at every level.
In a letter to members, MCC chief executive Robert Lawson said work is due to start in September and will be completed in time for the next homes Ashes in summer 2027.
Lawson added that next summer, seating in the new stand will be available for members ahead of roof and fit out works taking place over the winter of 2026/27.
Urging members to approve Ellmer’s appointment, he said: “The club has sufficient financial resources from cash balances to undertake the project, as well as a successful track record of delivering major ground development projects on time and to budget.”
The work is part of a wider scheme by the club to increase capacity at the St John’s Wood venue which saw ISG, now in administration, complete the Compton and Edrich stands more than three years ago.
Others working on the latest scheme include cost manager Arcadis and contract administrator Gardiner & Theobald.
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