Farington Cricket Project

Subsidy database: description of the subsidy 

  1. This standalone award is a permitted modified version of the now de-activated Scheme SC10718. The modification provides for an increase in budget of a subsidy or subsidy scheme of up to 25%. There are no additional modifications to this Subsidy.
  2. The Project consists of the development by the Council of a new sports facility in central Lancashire comprising two cricket pitches, which will support both elite level and community cricket. The facility will be developed by the Council and transferred to Lancashire County Cricket Club (the Club) on completion under a 250-year lease (with restrictions on use and an option to acquire).
  3. The value of the subsidy has been calculated according to The Subsidy Control (Gross Cash Amount and Gross Cash Equivalent) Regulations 2022, based on the value of the benefit conferred on the Club. Having regard to the estimated cost of the works, the Club's rent payments, and the Club's expected operating losses over the lifetime of the Project, which are linked to its obligation to provide community activities (see below), the amount of the subsidy is £9,715,027.
  4. The facility will become the second ground for the Club and will support the development of community, youth and women’s cricket. The facility will be the primary venue for the Club's academy and boys' and girls' age group matches and will become a Women’s Centre of Excellence for the North-West of England.  First team fixtures will only account for approximately 10% of the total use of the Facility by the Club.  In addition, the Club is obliged to allow the facility to be used by the community free of charge for an agreed minimum amount of time every year for 250 years. 
  5. The Club will provide community focussed activity on site in accordance with agreed priorities, which are set out in a binding agreement between the Council and the Club. These oblige the Club to prioritise the use of the facility in the following order:
  6. First, for training and matches for the Club's women's teams, men's second team, first team, and for the delivery of junior academy training and matches;
  7. Second, to make the facility available for community use free of charge, for an agreed minimum amount of time per year, at the Council's discretion; and to allow the Council to use the facility free of charge for the delivery of the Council's own functions from time to time;
  8. Third, to offer use of the facility to the wider community for sport or other health and wellbeing related uses (in addition to the community use described in (b)). This could include use by a university, college, school, local cricket or non-cricket sports clubs, or health and wellbeing groups;   
  9. Finally, and to the extent that it is permitted by planning permission, the Club may use the facility for income generating corporate or hospitality events, the income from which the Club can use to support its operating costs.
  10. The Council and its external legal counsel, together with the Club and its legal counsel, have assessed the subsidy against the subsidy control principles in Schedule 1 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and confirmed that all principles are satisfied.