Yorkshire pavilion given go-ahead

Headingley's pavilion has fallen behind the standards of other venues

Yorkshire have been granted planning permission to build their new state-of-the-art pavilion at Headingley.

The joint project with Leeds Metropolitan University will cost £21m, with the university providing £14m and Yorkshire Forward chipping in £4m.

Work on the new five-storey 4,000sqm Carnegie Pavilion will start in November and will be finished by 2010.

"This is fantastic news for the club, its members, players and partners," said chief executive Stewart Regan.

Regan added: "Leeds Met and ourselves have worked incredibly hard with our advisors over the past 18 months to deliver a project which satisfies everyone's needs."

Once completed, the Will Alsop-designed building at the Wintershed end of the ground will be used as a cricket pavilion and media centre during the cricket season and as a teaching facility for the university during the academic year.

Stephen Willis, director of finance and resources at Leeds Metropolitan University said: "The new development will facilitate significant and essential enhancements to the stadium.

"It will also provide opportunities for Leeds Met students to study in a state-of-the-art environment and learn through unrivalled practical experiences at the many events held at the stadium."