The construction of a new second home for cricket in Lancashire has hit a milestone as the pitch installation was completed.

The new facility at Farington, a collaboration between Lancashire County Council and Lancashire County Cricket Club, will provide a place for elite and community cricket to come together.

The site has two pitches, one for the professional teams and one for community play, and 12 months since work began the professional square and outfield turf, the community square, and turf section of the training area have been completed.

Eric Wright Construction, based in Bamber Bridge, is leading the building work, and can now switch its focus onto constructing the pavilion at Farington.

The professional pitch at Farington is completeThe professional pitch at Farington is complete (Image: Lancashire County Council) Lancashire CCC and the council will now take over maintenance and development of the pitch and training area.

It's hoped the facility will be completed ahead of the start of the 2026 cricket season and will have capacity for 5,000 fans to cheer on the Red Rose side when it plays away from its main home of Old Trafford.

Marking the milestone were players Tom Bailey and Alice Clarke who visited the pitch along with head groundsman Matt Merchant and ex-Lancashire and England bowler Paul Allott.

They joined council leader Councillor Phillippa Williamson and Cllr Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth.

Mr Merchant said: "It is a really exciting day for the club as we receive the handing over of the professional cricket oval from Eric Wright Construction.

The two pitches at Farington are taking shapeThe two pitches at Farington are taking shape (Image: Lancashire County Council)

"On behalf of everyone at Lancashire Cricket, I would like to thank Eric Wright Construction for all of their hard work and efforts in helping us to reach this milestone.

"Specialist work will now begin to take place by our grounds team in order to ensure the pitch is bedded in and prepared ahead of cricket taking place at Farington during the 2026 season."

Building work now turns to the cricket pavilion and completion of the outfield of the community oval.

The Farington site is to be the club's second home and also provide a pathway for young cricketers into the professional ranks, and is also to be the North West Centre of Excellence for the flourishing women's game.

Cllr Williamson added: "This pioneering facility is one of a kind in the UK, and we're incredibly proud and excited to be delivering this in Lancashire.

"A huge amount of progress has been made and we're now working through the handover process for the professional pitch and part of the training area, which will allow the pitches to be developed and maintained while other works continue.

"We'll now be working hard to complete the community pitch and pavilion, which will pave the way for a new generation of cricket stars."