Above: Performance training session (Photo courtesy of Wrencon Ltd)

Central batting lane features inclusive high-contrast flooring

Somerset County Cricket Club - Centre of Excellence

Client: Somerset County Cricket Club

Value: £600,000

Services Provided: Feasibility Study, Concept Development, Planning Stage Design, Planning Application, Detailed Design, Construction Stage Support, CGIs, Principal Designer (CDM), Principal Designer (BSA), Contract Administrator.

RIBA Stages: 0-7

Refurbishment of Somerset County Cricket Club’s Centre of Excellence, PMOA route, and umpire’s room to achieve ECB standards for an international cricket venue.

gcp was appointed by Somerset County Cricket Club to review and upgrade their Centre of Excellence, PMOA route, and umpire’s room to achieve compliance with the ECB’s standards surrounding health & safety, safeguarding, player experience, and accessibility.

Centre of excellence match play netting arrangement

Bespoke Branding

The works were split into two key phases. Phase 1 addressed refurbishment of the Centre of Excellence ready for players to start their winter training programme. Phase 2 created a separate Player and Match Official Area which linked the away changing rooms to the pitch without compromising the Centre of Excellence.

Additionally, Phase 2 included upgrades to the umpire’s room to improve views of the pitch and changing provision.

Phase 1

The existing centre suffered from non-compliant flooring and lighting as well as insufficient safety margins and divisions, which created significant safety concerns. gcp worked with specialist lighting, netting, and flooring manufacturers to create an elite level training facility including:

  • Our most inclusive visually contrasting state-of-the-art flooring specification - developed through an R&D exercise with Gerflor - which is now being adopted as best practice in the sector.

  • A flexible netting design featuring a UK first: double width fully sewn-in bay nets allowing for a wider range of exercises without compromising on safety.

  • TS2/TS3 compliant LED lighting design with decentralised battery back up for system longevity and safe maintenance.

Bowling machine setup for elite training session

Top Images Left to Right: Inclusive visually contrasting state-of-the-art flooring specification; Advanced netting system in retracted state; Early stage architectural visualisation; Completed project reflecting early visualisation.

Above: Completed project.

The officials’ room external appearance

Boundary to boundary views from the officials’ room

Phase 2

Previously, in order to access the pitch, away teams would need to walk through the Centre of Excellence. To improve health & safety and safeguarding gcp introduced a fully segregated PMOA route to allow for centre usage during matchdays. Introduction of the PMOA route also allowed for the creation of padding up areas and an extended run-up in the centre itself. Additionally, gcp demonstrated a route to compliance for the existing umpire’s room, which suffered from poor pitch views. Reconfiguration of the external wall and internal arrangement allowed for full boundary to boundary views for the officials’ team.

Working within Somerset CCC’s complex training and match schedules for 2025/26, gcp managed to achieve completion of the Centre of Excellence ahead of the winter training programme and completion of the PMOA route and umpire’s room ahead of the 2026 cricket season.