The Square One Cricket Centre, University of Brighton — the largest indoor cricket centre in the UK

The centre occupies a repurposed 2,200m² Virgin Active tennis centre at Falmer, converted in partnership with Square One Education and the University of Brighton as part of a long-term plan to create a performance hub for cricket development in the South East.

Every element had to work for multiple user groups: elite training for Sussex CCC professionals alongside regular access for schools, students, clubs and grassroots players.

The facility runs to nine high-performance lanes, each 30 metres long by 3.6 metres wide, with nets suspended at a consistent 5-metre height on custom-fabricated hanging brackets. Each lane has full-length 30-metre wing nets, two outside containment nets, and bowler’s end nets fitted with interchangeable black and white canvas screens so the space moves between red and white ball training without altering the net structure.

A white dividing net separates the run-up from the batting lanes through crossover units across all lanes, creating a dedicated fielding and warm-up space. Overhead, each bay carries a full-length roof net on track-mounted wires with retractable skirts. The installation also introduced our new draw-and-tuck batter’s-end screen, which retracts to improve visibility for bowlers during white ball sessions.

The playing surface is laid in two tones, and they are two products. The Mint Green surrounds are DuraFlex — Gerflor’s Taraflex Performance SL under our own brand, and the specification that carries ECB approval. The Clay wickets are Taraflex Performance SL itself. Same material and same performance underfoot; the approval sits with the Mint Green specification, which is why DuraFlex is the name on it. The floor is finished with senior and junior crease markings.

Alongside the lanes sit two fully enclosed tensioned training cages, each 28m x 10.5m, built on a high-tension netting system with a spring and anchor mechanism for a consistent rebound. Entry and exit doors are tension-netted with low-profile fasteners for total enclosure.

The centre supports simultaneous sessions across nine lanes and two cages, and full indoor cricket court markings mean it can host structured leagues, competitions and match play year-round — particularly valuable through the winter when outdoor play stops.

The Academy also features Arc Simulations ball-tracking technology, collecting over 200 datapoints per second for real-time shot analysis and trajectory feedback, taking player development well beyond what a standard net session can offer.

You can design your own indoor cricket centre online with our facility builder, and see how the lanes, netting and surfacing come together before you speak to anyone: durantindoorcricketcentrebuilder.durantsports.co.uk

Every installation we have completed is plotted on our map. Tick Indoor Cricket Nets to see the rest: installations.durantcricket.co.uk