ESSEX County Cricket Club have moved another step nearer the £40million re-development of the Ford County Ground.

Chelmsford Borough Council's planning chiefs have given their backing to the club’s plans to transform their “old and out of date” headquarters into a modern, 8,000-capacity stadium – so long as concerns over flooding from the nearby River Can and transport issues are allayed.

Essex and development partners MCD want to demolish large parts of the club’s home since 1938, installing a new pavilion, stands, indoor cricket centre and a 300-space multi-storey car park, while a new piazza containing bars, restaurants and shops and pedestrian footbridge would welcome spectators entering from Chelmsford town centre.

To pay for the scheme, the pair want to build more than 400 flats and eight houses, complete with a further 167 car and 423 cycle parking spaces. The flats would be housed in apartment blocks of 12, 10 and eight storeys.

With Essex anxious to begin “preliminary works” as early as January, the council was “minded not to refuse” the planning application this week, despite the club’s failure to satisfy Environment Agency concerns over possible flooding from the nearby River Can.

Council officers are also awaiting a final report on the plans – which include a new access road and cycle paths – from the Highways Agency.

Should the club fail to satisfy the council on both counts, the application will have to be re-considered, putting in jeopardy the county’s aim to have the work completed in time for the 2011 season.

Essex plan to vacate the ground in 2010, playing matches at outgrounds in Southend, Billericay and Colchester.

Club officials are believed to have been encouraged by the councillors’ decision.

More than 60 residents objected to the club's renovation plans almost exclusively on the grounds that the flats and houses – which would bring more than 500 new people into the area – would place an unbearable strain on local amenities.

Others were unhappy with the height of the new apartment blocks.

l ESSEX all-rounder Ravi Bopara, who scored nearly 1,900 runs during the 2008 season, has been named NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year.