A CHARD firm has achieved a major coup after being chosen as main contractor to build Somerset County Cricket Club’s new pavilion.

The club appointed RG Spiller this week ahead of the £3.8million project which will see the Old Pavilion replaced by a state-of-the-art facility with covered seating, large bar and entertainment area, corporate facilities, media centre and rooftop viewing area.

RG Spiller managing director Andrew Howard said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to carry out this exciting new project and look forward to working with the club in the coming months.”

Work on the Somerset Pavilion is scheduled to start in September and once completed it will bring the ground up to the technical specification required to host one-day International cricket.

It is hoped part of the pavilion can be used during the closing stages of the 2015 season with the entire facility fully open from the start of the 2016 campaign.

Cricket club chief executive Guy Lavender said: “The selection of the main contractor has been a comprehensive and lengthy process with a range of companies interviewed from across the country.

“RG Spiller provided an outstanding proposal and I am delighted we have now signed the contract with them for the new build.

“They are a local company who take great pride in their work and I have every confidence they will build a facility of which we can all be proud.”