A proposal has sought to build an indoor cricket centre on the site of a former hobby store in Harold Wood.

A planning application was sent to Havering Council on March 22 by Rockchase Sports to use Creative House in Bryant Avenue as a “high quality indoor sports facility” offering “comprehensive coaching services” and “specialised training programs” for cricket enthusiasts in the region.

Crafty Arts, that sold art supplies, stationery, jigsaw puzzles and craft and hobby items out of the building, shut down on December 22 last year according to the shop’s website.

A document attached with the application reveals that the sports centre will provide seven cricket nets, out of which two will be equipped with a bowling machine.

Read More: Romford developments for vulnerable adults get £2m GLA cash

The venue, it said, aims to offer a practice space for individuals or teams to improve their cricketing skills.

“It (the venue) would host tournaments and special events including cricket matches, leagues or other sports-related events that bring the community together”, it added.

The facilities, if approved, are also said to provide rental services to schools, sports clubs, community events, birthday parties and corporate events.

The plans include an on-site shop that will reportedly build on an established e-commerce platform the applicant is seeking to expand. Cricket equipment and other related products will be on offer at the store.

Rockchase Sports, the document further claimed, boasts a “well-established clientele in the realm of online retail” and has “successfully partnered with about 20 cricket clubs” that have expressed their interest in using the facilities at the proposed Harold Wood site.  

The plans suggest that the applicant will retain the ground floor retail area as it exists, with the rest of the floor being used for cricket nets.

Office space for rent would be built on the first floor, and on the mezzanine there would be a seating area for spectators.

The applicant said that the demand for indoor cricket nets is experiencing a “significant growth” with more than 300 clubs in east London and Essex alone vying for good quality indoor nets.

The closest one, it says, is Ilford Cricket Club.

A decision on the application is expected to be made by May 21.