PLANS to knock down a pub and create 37 new flats outside a cricket ground have been submitted.

Sussex Cricket has revealed its radical redesign for the County Ground in Hove, complete with a replacement of the Sussex Cricketers pub.

This week, the plans went on display for the first time to allow people to give feedback.

The existing pub of the same name will be knocked down.

More than £20 million will be invested in the ground and its surroundings, creating 153 jobs.

Rob Andrew, chief executive of Sussex Cricket, said he wanted the club to “secure its future”.

He said: “We have heard from our club members, neighbours, local businesses, amenity and conservation groups as well as the South East Design Panel and council officers and we have worked hard to integrate their feedback into our plans.”

“Sussex Cricket supports 200 community cricket clubs and 340 league teams across Sussex, an academy training ground a centre for women’s cricket, and community support bringing cricket to people of all abilities in the county.”

As well as the new flat block and pub, changes will be made to the cricket ground.

The old Tate Gates will be reinstalled at the ground’s entrance alongside a new clock tower. The revamped Sussex Cricketer pub will be open-plan and have a terrace for visitors.

The block of flats on Eaton Road will provide 37 new homes, including one four-bed apartment.

Basement parking will be provided for residents.

Phase two of the development will see the club office and south west stand knocked down and replaced by a new main entrance, rooftop bar, and club shop.

Then the club hopes to add two more seating stands at the north end of the ground, along with Astroturf terraces for visitors to put deck chairs.

Finally food stands in the south east corner will be replaced with a new 586-seat stand.

The club hopes to get permission for phase one of the project for the start of 2020, which could be finished by 2022.

Then phase two of the project is expected to follow in 2023.

A Sussex Cricket spokesman said: “Hundreds of visitors attended our public consultation exhibition in February.

“Match day traffic and parking will not change and the new apartments and commercial space will have parking spaces underneath the building.

“The objective of this proposal is to secure the future of the county ground in Hove, our club and our community programme in Sussex.”