The homebuilder, whose Foxhills development is adjacent to the Douglas cricket ground, has been in talks with the club after it emerged that planning permission was granted without proper provision for nets being included.

CALA Homes will fund new 14-metre-high nets to the eastern and southern boundaries of the ground and contribute to their future maintenance. The company will also manage the installation of the nets which will be erected in the New Year, ahead of the new cricket season in April.

Colin Banton, Chairman of Barnt Green Cricket Club, said: "We are very pleased to have come to a satisfactory agreement with CALA Homes regarding this important issue. Installation of safety netting is of mutual benefit to both CALA and the Cricket Club. We are grateful that CALA has ultimately listened to our concerns and appreciated that the cricket club is not in a financial position to afford to install the netting. Cricket has been played on the Douglas Ground since the 1970's and we can now look forward to many more seasons of cricket being played at this ground alongside the new CALA houses"

Steve Hird, managing director of CALA Homes (Midlands), said: “We have actively engaged with the cricket club, the parish council and Bromsgrove District Council since this issue was first raised and have always been committed to reaching a successful resolution. This is a significant investment for CALA which reflects our commitment to work in partnership with the local communities in which we build.”