Three Local Councils and emda were recognised for their partnership approach to helping to fund the recent £8.2million redevelopment at Trent Bridge at a prestigious awards ceremony held in London last week.

Representative of Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council joined Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive Derek Brewer at the Local Government Chronicle Awards and walked away with the award for best Public-Private Sector partnership.

“I am really delighted that the combined efforts of our Public Sector partners have been recognised in such a prestigious manner,” said Derek Brewer.

“It is a fitting reward for the achievements of a unique partnership from which so many people will benefit. We had to move extremely quickly to agree a funding package and the judging panel recognised the significant community benefits which will flow from the redevelopment.

“I know how much the award means to colleagues in Local Government and emda and I am really pleased that their boldness has been recognised.”

The club have committed to delivering a series of community milestones on behalf of the councils which will benefit disadvantaged young people by using sport and recreation to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The £8.2m project was funded by a £2.5m grant from emda and loans of £1.23m from each of the three Local Authorities. The club contributed £2m from its own resources. Works started in September 2007 and were completed in June 2008, when the new facilities were officially opened by HRH Prince Philip.

The submission to the Local Government Chronicle Awards highlighted the fact that Test cricket at Trent Bridge served to boost the regional economy, as well as outlining how major matches give the city, county and region stature on the national and international sporting landscape.

The programme of improvements at Trent Bridge included the building of a new stand and the installation of a permanent replay screen and floodlights, and paved the way for the successful bid to co-host the ICC World Twenty20 this June.