PLANS have been lodged for a new pavilion at a Winchester park, ahead of improvements to the playing field.

Winchester City Council has submitted an application to its own planning department for a two-storey pavilion at the King George V Playing Field, in Bar End Road.

The development would see the demolition of two existing pavilions on the site, which were constructed during the 1960s and are “no longer fit for purpose due to inadequate space and deteriorating condition”.

The application states: “The eastern pavilion at the far end of the access road is considered derelict and is no longer in use. As a result, it poses a burden on Winchester City Council and there have been long standing issues with anti-social behaviour and vandalism targeted at the pavilion.”

The new pavilion would encompass Sport England compliant changing facilities, a club/community room with kitchen and first floor viewing gallery or balcony with views of the pitches.

“As well as providing much improved facilities for the pitches, the proposed pavilion also has the potential to be used as a community facility with the clubhouse space available to hire, by local community groups for example. The building has been designed to facilitate this by creating a clubhouse with self contained toilets and a kitchenette which can be accessed completely independently from the ground floor changing accommodation,” the application added.

As well as the pavilion, the city council are undertaking a range of improvements to the KGV playing fields site with the intention of providing a community-orientated sports park with strong environmental aspirations.

The scheme includes improved sports pitch layout which will offer FA-recommended pitch sizes for a range of age groups, full refurbishment of the skate park and children’s play area.

The site is protected by Fields In Trust, an independent charity whose purpose is to protect parks and green spaces so that they can be enjoyed by all in perpetuity. The proposals for the site layout and position of the pavilion have been agreed with the charity.

It is thought that the site has been protected as playing fields since the 1940’s following the establishment of the King George Field’s Foundation.