YORKSHIRE want their home to be one of world cricket's top venues after announcing a six-phase redevelopment 'Masterplan' for Headingley over the next 20 years.

The White Rose county will start with the installation of permanent floodlights in 2015 before increasing the ground's capacity from 17,000 to 20,000, with the rebuilding of the North/South Stand the centrepiece of the project.

They will work in conjunction with Leeds Rugby, Leeds City Council and DLA Architecture to deliver ambitious plans which will cost an estimated £50 million.

The rebuild of the North/South Stand, in conjunction with Leeds Rugby, will incorporate a three-tiered seating area accommodating 5,060 seats and corporate facilities.

Phase three will see the addition of an extra 915 seats to the upper tier of the North East Stand, while there is also the possibility of a cantilever roof running from the side of the Carnegie Pavilion to the scoreboard next to the Headingley Lodge.

A new Pavilion in the North West corner of the ground, to the left of the Carnegie Pavilion as you look at it now, will be built in phase four.

That will include corporate facilities, new player dressing rooms, a members' Long Room, more seating and a main entrance to the stadium in Kirkstall Lane.

Phase five will see the erection of a translucent cantilever roof to cover the newly named White Rose Stand, the old Western Terrace. Landscaping on the White Rose and North East Stand concourses will be the sixth phase.

"This is the most ambitious project the club and the venue will have undertaken since the ground was first established 125 years ago," said Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves.

"Our ambitions are clear. We want to create a stadium that is amongst the finest in the world and enable Yorkshire to continue to stage major international fixtures over the long term. It is vital that we don’t lose sight of our objectives.

"As other venues around the country continue to invest in their facilities, we cannot afford to stand still and expect that Headingley will always host international cricket. The stark reality is that if our stadium fails to evolve, we will lose our Test Match status.

"The Masterplan has been designed to provide a framework to enable us to achieve our objectives of improving facilities over a period of time.

“The phased approach allows room for flexibility and for the stadium complex to evolve over time. Providing the best facilities for our stakeholders, including members, corporate patrons and our playing staff is my driving force.

"These are all very exciting proposals, and we will be working with local residents and all parties involved in these plans as, together, we seek to make them a reality.

“I will be working tirelessly, alongside our partners, to ensure this project becomes a reality and my lasting legacy as chairman of Yorkshire."

In order to move forward with the plans, Yorkshire say they will "secure the support of members, the community, local home owners, businesses and other key stakeholders via a detailed consultation period".