Bosses at Gloucestershire County Cricket Club are considering leaving Bristol for a new home in Gloucester after redevelopment plans for the County Ground were rejected.
They say the decision by councillors on Wednesday makes it “almost impossible” for the club to stay.
Councillors on Bristol city Council’s development control (north) committee voted by six to four against the plans to expand the stadium’s capacity to 17,500.
The scheme would have been paid for by building a seven-storey block of 147 flats on the site.
Club chief executive Tom Richardson said: “We are bitterly disappointed by this decision [which] means that the international cricket programme in Bristol now stops and will be lost forever.
“Furthermore, our overall future in Bristol is also in doubt. It is no secret that Gloucester would be very keen to have us. The funding from the development will be lost and the city risks losing what could be its only sports stadium. We need to consider our options, but time is running out.”
Club supporters are bemoaning the prospect of the club leaving its home of 122 years. But the plans’ opponents say while they want the club to stay, it should not be “at any cost”.
Gloucester City Council is understood to have already approach the club to discuss relocating.
The club board will consider appealing against the committee’s decision at its next meeting.
