Gloucestershire Cricket has confirmed that a major redevelopment of the players' and officials' facilities at the Seat Unique Stadium will begin in Autumn 2025, securing the venue's place on the international stage for years to come.
The refurbishment will address significant shortfalls in the current Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), which falls well below the ECB's international staging regulations. Once complete, the project will safeguard the stadium's ability to host global tournaments beyond 2031, including the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2030.
The ECB has been closely involved from the outset, setting cost benchmarks and approving the scope of the plans. Crucially, the governing body has committed to funding a third of the costs to ensure the upgrades meet long-term regulatory and accessibility standards.
The redevelopment will completely transform the PMOA. At its heart will be the creation of four enlarged, international-standard dressing rooms within both the Pavilion and Bristol Cricket Centre, ensuring the stadium can comfortably host double-header fixtures. A mezzanine floor will be added to the Bristol Cricket Centre to expand the overall space, while fully compliant changing areas for match officials will also be introduced.
The facilities are being designed with inclusivity at the forefront. Gender-neutral dressing rooms equipped with modern toilets and showers will be installed, alongside wheelchair-accessible infrastructure to support disability athletes. New and enhanced areas will be created for physios, sports science and medical teams, while fourth officials overseeing technology such as DRS will have greater space to operate.
Players will also benefit from an extended balcony with clear team demarcation and a permanent bridge linking directly to the outfield. Analysts will be supported with upgraded working positions, while the historic Jessop Room will be refurbished for use as a year-round dining area for players or as a hospitality venue.
These new facilities will be completed in time for the start of the 2026 domestic season, when Gloucestershire's Men's and Women's teams begin their campaigns in April.
England Women will be the first to make use of the upgraded dressing rooms when they face India on 30 May 2026, just weeks before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The Seat Unique Stadium will then host six fixtures in the global tournament, including matches featuring defending champions New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies.
The venue has also been awarded two double-header matchdays during the competition, meaning all four competing teams will be able to prepare simultaneously in the new international-standard facilities.
England Men are also scheduled to appear in Bristol next summer, when they take on current world champions India in a high-profile IT20 on Thursday 9 July.
Earlier this summer, the ground staged the final matches of a landmark seven-game IT20 series between England Men's Mixed Disability team and India. The redevelopment will further strengthen the stadium's ability to host disability cricket, with accessibility built into every aspect of the new design.
The design concepts are being delivered by Bristol-based GCP Chartered Architects, who have a track record of working on redevelopments at Headingley, Taunton and other leading cricket venues. The practice also contributed to Nevil Road's preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 and has played a key role in shaping the venue's long-term Masterplan.
At the same time, Gloucestershire Cricket continues to explore the potential relocation of the ground to Swanmoor Stoke, having signed a non-binding Heads of Terms agreement in April. However, the redevelopment of the current facilities at Nevil Road remains essential to protect revenues from hosting bilateral internationals and ICC major tournaments, while ensuring Gloucestershire can attract and retain leading players across both men's and women's cricket.
"The extensive overhaul of the Players and Match Officials area at the Seat Unique Stadium is a crucial project as Gloucestershire seeks to protect its important status as an international and global tournament venue for the years to come," said Chief Executive Officer Neil Priscott.
"It is an extremely technical development as there are so many facets to it, and we're grateful for the support of ECB in the planning and part financing of this project. We are striving for excellence in all that we do, and delivering world class facilities for all the players, coaches, support staff and officials who visit our ground is a hugely important step to ensure we're at the top table of English cricket."
The club will move to tender for the project in the week beginning Monday 1 September, with construction set to begin after the 2025 season and finish in time for the start of the 2026 campaign.