Kent members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the county’s revised £8.2m plan to redevelop the St Lawrence Ground at a Special General Meeting at Canterbury on Monday.

Around 200 attended with business completed in just over an hour. The motion was carried by 1,187 votes to 237, with 15 abstensions and 29 spoilt papers.

Chairman George Kennedy (pictured) said: “I am absolutely delighted that the members have given us such a positive go ahead.

"It’s good news for the club, and we look forward to moving the project forward as quickly as we can.”

Kent will now sign complete legal agreements with their commercial partners, but won’t reveal the identity of the new house builders involved after Persimmon pulled out of the original development due to the credit crunch. Mr Kennedy did confirm that eight companies tendered for the job.

The county hope work will start in late Autumn.

Meanwhile, Kent are due to face Leicestershire in their final home LV County Championship Division 2 match of the season on Tuesday.

The county are already assured of promtion but need eight points to clinch the Division 2 title.

Ryan McLaren has recovered from a side injury, and returns in what is likely to be his farewell four-day appearance at Canterbury.

However, the weather could hold up proceedings with forecasters predicting rain for most of the day in the East of the county