Basingstoke club building has English Cricket Board backing to host county-level fixtures

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt has won planning permission for a sporting pavilion at May’s Bounty Cricket Ground in Basingstoke.

The practice, which is headquartered in the Hampshire town, said that in addition to providing a striking new home for the area’s rugby, football and squash clubs as well as the cricketing community, the venue would be able to host county cricket fixtures.

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt said the building’s design consisted of two carved-brick blocks that came together to form a plinth that housed changing room spaces, while an external terrace wrapped around the first-floor social spaces providing 360-degree views of the surrounding sports pitches.

A folded canopy will make the new Basingstoke Sports & Social Club building a landmark at the same time as sheltering the terrace, Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt said.

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt's proposals for Basingstoke Sports & Social Club's new pavilion

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt’s proposals for Basingstoke Sports & Social Club’s new pavilion

The pavilion contains three squash courts, a club bar and members’ lounge and a flexible function space that has capacity for up to 150 people.

Practice director David Ayre said the proposals had been in development for a long time and were the result of close collaboration between sporting stakeholders.

Section view of Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt's Basingstoke pavilion with squash courts and members' area

Section view of Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt’s Basingstoke pavilion with squash courts and members’ area

“We’ve been involved since very early on in the process working with Basingstoke Sports & Social Club, Hampshire County Cricket and the English Cricket Board so we’re delighted to get the go-ahead for this much-needed local hub for sports,” he said.

Ayre added that the provision of international-standard changing facilities meant the ground would be able to host Hampshire County Cricket matches.

Work is due to start on site in March with an anticipated 12-month project duration.

Section view of Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt's Basingstoke pavilion with squash courts and members' area

Section view of Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt’s Basingstoke pavilion with squash courts and members’ area