Bellerive’s capacity will be boosted to 20,000 in time for the 2015 cricket World Cup under plans submitted for approval by Cricket Tasmania (CT).

A 5000-seat western stand is the centrepiece of the proposal, which will also make the ground more suitable for North Melbourne AFL matches.

Funding and council approval for the $30 million project are still to be finalised but CT chairman Tony Harrison is confident construction will begin in May next year.

The federal government is providing $15 million and Harrison said discussions with other sources of funding, including the AFL, were continuing.

“We’ve discussed the funding and we’re confident we’ll get the funding for the development,” he told reporters on Monday.

Harrison said Bellerive could host three World Cup games if it meets ICC standards, while the Kangaroos have committed to two games per season in 2013-14.

A patchwork of three buildings on the western side of the ground will be demolished for the new stand, which will provide the ground’s only elevated side-on view.

The Bellerive hierarchy said last month it hoped to attract the NRL, Wallabies and A-League to the venue in future years.

Harrison said the AFL would take construction into account in its scheduling.

He said the picturesque ground would lose none of its character, including its trademark views of the sailing on the River Derwent.

“You’ll still be able to look through parts of the stand and from the elevated portions you’ll be able to see out, and we are maintaining the (eastern) hill,” he said.

“Our architects have come up with quite a unique concept.

“The concept for the stand is developed around sailboats on the Derwent so it’s designed to fit in with the environment.”