DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott could have the final say over ambitious plans to redevelop The Mote Cricket Ground in Maidstone.

The borough council will first need to grant planning permission for the scheme, unveiled in the Kent Messenger last week.

An application is expected in the autumn. If that hurdle is cleared, the scheme is then likely to be referred to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister - unless the Council can argue that it represents an "insignificant" development.

The stumbling block is likely to be the plan to build 40 homes on the site.

Maidstone’s Borough Council’s local plan makes no provision for such a development and states that any loss of open space or sport and recreation facilities should be "firmly resisted."

The applicants will have to prove that there is an "overriding need" for the development - and provide an equivalent facility to compensate for any loss.

If they can convince Maidstone council of their case, the applicants may then have to wait on John Prescott’s verdict.

The Mote is considered one of the finest cricket ground’s in the country. Despite this, its facilities have been heavily criticised in recent years and stories have persisted that the future of the Maidstone Festival is under threat.

The Mote claim the scheme will ensure Kent continue to play at the ground and Hillreed Homes, who are co-ordinating the overall plan, say their controversial housing plan would provide about half the cash needed.

The purchase of the land alone is expected to bring the club a windfall of at least £2 million.

Efforts have begun to fund the shortfall with corporate sponsors and funding bodies including Sports England being approached.

The centrepiece of the Mote project is a new pavilion, complete with a five lane indoor cricket school, gym, banqueting area for 150 people and enhanced spectator areas.

The existing cricket pavilion and clubhouse used by Maidstone Rugby Club will be demolished with rugby and cricket pitches re-jigged to create room for the "enabling" housing development.

The proposed crescent would include four one-bedroom apartments, four two-bedroom apartments, eight three-bedroom apartments and 24 three bedroom town houses.

Although there are no covenants on the ground restricting development, the land, which was given to four trustees in 1929, is held on trust to be used for sport.