REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast has bowled over cricket club officials by backing major ground expansion plans.

In what One NorthEast describes as “reinforcing” its commitment to the development of the region’s top sporting venues, the agency has approved £715,000 funding for the proposed upgrade of Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside home, in Chester-le-Street.

The investment follows the club winning cricket’s County Championship for the first time in its 16-year history at first-class level, last weekend.

It will help the club meet the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB’s) desire for total permanent seating, ensuring it has more chance of hosting international fixtures, particularly five-day Test matches.

The need for additional seating was identified in the Riverside master plan, the blueprint One NorthEast helped the club to devise.

Other features of the Riverside development, which may attract further investment, include a 150-bed hotel and extended conference facilities.

Part of the One NorthEast funding is earmarked for extra seating, on top of £242,000 approved earlier this year to aid feasibility and preparatory work putting together the £45m improvement package.

Club chief executive David Harker said it would help the county’s commitment to bring the highest quality cricket to the region.

“It is important we complete the Riverside Stadium to meet the expectations of the modern cricket supporter,” he said. “An average Test match can attract up to 80,000 spectators over five days, which will increase to 100,000 over the same period once the ground is completed.”

It is hoped that adding extra facilities and a hotel will encourage visitors to stay longer in the North-East, a priority of One NorthEast’s Passionate people. Passionate places marketing campaign.

Louise Davis, One North- East’s head of culture and tourism, said: “The Riverside stadium is one of the region’s leading sporting venues.

“Over the past couple of years, it has established itself by securing high-profile cricket matches and it plays an important role putting the North-East on the national and international map.

“However, if we’re to build on this success, continued investments and improvements are vital and that’s exactly what this funding from One NorthEast is assisting with.”

Increasing ground capacity to 20,000 will strengthen Durham’s bid to host not only future Tests and one-day internationals, but World Twenty20 championship fixtures.

There was great disappointment when the county failed to land a match in next summer’s Ashes series with Australia, edged out by Test venue newcomer Glamorgan, with its revamped Cardiff ground.

A small consolation was the award of the seventh and final England v Australia one-day international, weather-permitting, on September 20, next year.