The MCC insisted today that their membership are united behind the redevelopment plans for Lord’s despite the determination of one group to investigate the committee’s working practices.
The club yesterday revealed that the committee had rejected the latest proposal, worth £75million and in conjunction with property company Rifkind-Levy, to build a residential development at the Nursery End of the ground.
The MCC now intend to press ahead with the Masterplan, a stage-by-stage reworking of the Home of Cricket that would cost about £200m and would take 15 years to complete.
It is understood that any further offers to build residential property at the Nursery End are highly likely to be rejected. Yet the MCC Reform Group, a clutch of members who believe the club should explore the option of property development more closely, remain determined to force a Special General Meeting.
Should they do so, the group would call for an independent inquiry into the handling of ground redevelopment. Standard Sport understands the group are about 30 signatures short of the 180 they need to force the SGM.
A spokesman for the group said: “We are digesting this and we press on. We see no reason to abandon our plans to call for an SGM. We remain adamant that the opportunity to act in the best interests of the club is not being properly examined.
“The reasons for not giving consideration to the possibility of residential development are difficult to understand.”
The MCC committee fear that if apartments were constructed, it would reduce space for the cricket ground to expand, as well as for broadcast companies. There is also concern within the club that pressing ahead with the Rifkind-Levy plan would mean losing control of 10 per cent of their estate to third parties, which they would never be able to regain.
In a letter to members, MCC president Mike Griffith wrote that the club would proceed “at pace” with the Masterplan.
Today, an MCC spokesman added: “We have had a very positive response from our membership and we believe that the majority support our decision.
“We are confident that our members want cricket to be at the heart of our redevelopment.”
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