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A MULTI-million pound plan to turn Hampshire Rose Bowl into a home for international Test cricket could soon take a major step forward.

Eighteen months ago Hampshire Cricket chiefs unveiled spectacular proposals to transform the West End ground into a £35m superbowl.

Now Eastleigh councillors are being recommended to approve the creation of a new-look stadium with a seating capacity for 25,000 spectators.

It would make it the second biggest English ground after Lords and put it on track to becoming the first of a new generation of Test grounds.

The proposals would also boost the Rose Bowl's capacity for staging pop concerts, which have in the past included The Who and Billy Joel.

Plans include a four-storey 175-bedroom hotel.

New stands There would be a media centre with press boxes, broadcasting area and a 200-seat lounge, restaurant and bars, conference centre and leisure centre.

New spectator stands on the west and east sides of the ground will have capacity for 25,000 spectators. The golf course will be redesigned and increased to 18 holes.

If it clears all the planning hurdles, it is planned to have the hotel and new stands ready for the 2010 season.

At the end of this month the council's Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee will consider a report covering more than 50 pages on the Rose Bowl application.

Planners are recommending the permission should be given but at the end of the day Eastleigh might not have the final say.

If permission is granted it would have to be referred to the Secretary of State who would consider whether to call it in to determine whether there should be a public inquiry into the proposals.

In the report to the committee, planning officer Dawn Errington says: "The application states that one of the main purposes of the development is to complete the stadium in a way that satisfies the requirements of the English Cricket Board for Test match venues.

"Although the club has been successful in achieving allocations of one-day international games its applications for Test matches have not so far been successful.

"The ECB has established specifications which must be achieved in order that venues are awarded Test matches.

"The club aspirations are to achieve those specifications."

More than 160 local residents were notified by the council about the application. So far there have been ten letters of objection and one of support.

Concerns include traffic gridlock in West End, pollution and impact on the landscape.