Truro’s New Sports Pavilion Is Taking Shape and It Looks Stunning

Scaffolding is coming down at Boscawen Park in Truro, and the city’s long-awaited new community sports and wellbeing pavilion is finally starting to reveal itself.

Truro Mayor Chris Wells and Truro Town Deal Chairman Alan Stanhope visited the site this week to see the exposed larch wood cladding on the front and left-hand side of the building, with representatives from contractor Fox Construction Solutions, project managers Ward Williams Associates, and officers from Truro City Council also in attendance.

What’s Been Done So Far

The removal of the scaffolding from the exterior marks a significant moment for a project that has been progressing through a notably tough winter. According to site manager Simon McMahon, up to 25 people have been on site every day since December.

“All the ceilings are finished, and the doors and windows have gone in, with the scaffolding now removed from the interior of the building,” said Simon. “The plastering has been completed in the sports hall, the stairs up to the upper floor are finished, and the upper rooms are now being plastered and decorated.”

Once roof work is completed over the coming weeks, the remaining exterior scaffolding will also come down, with the focus shifting to fitting out the interior.

What the Pavilion Will Offer

The timber-framed building has been designed to support health, wellbeing and physical activity for people of all ages and abilities. Inside, there will be flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for sports clubs, community groups, instructors and individuals, as well as social and support areas.

Sports on offer will include badminton, pickleball, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and indoor tennis, alongside fitness classes, wellbeing sessions, workshops and community-led programmes. Pay and Play sessions will also be available for residents and visitors who want flexible, drop-in access.

The pavilion will also serve as a venue for meetings and events, helping to support the long-term sustainability of the facility.

Part of a Bigger Project

The pavilion forms part of a wider £5.2 million project to improve Boscawen Park, funded by Truro Town Deal with support from Cornwall Council. Beyond the new building, the project includes extending and resurfacing the pétanque pitch, resurfacing the riverside walk, new fencing on the riverside of the park, new drainage, and reseeding of the playing fields. Dredging of the duck pond is due to take place later in the year.

Opening This Summer

The building is currently on course to be formally handed over to the City Council at the end of June, with the pavilion officially opening to the public at the beginning of August.

Chris said: “It is tremendous to see the progress that’s been made since the topping out ceremony in December. We are now looking forward to the community being able to use this building when it opens in the summer.”

“The Pavilion is going to be a brilliant facility for Truro. It has long been an aim of the City Council to have something that will increase the facilities for sport and the local community here at Boscawen Park. We are already taking bookings from interested community groups, and we look forward to other sports groups and anybody else interested in using this facility getting in touch with us.”

Alan said: “Seeing the scaffolding come down at Boscawen Park Sports Hub is a visual milestone. It brings the project into full view and highlights the positive impact this investment is having on the city and its public spaces.”

“When the Town Deal programme was launched, we asked the people who live and work in Truro what they would like to see. This project was top of the list and I am delighted to see it being delivered. This is a legacy for Truro and I hope the local community enjoy using it.”

Kevin Bate, Director at Fox Construction Solutions, added: “As a local company with offices just five miles away at Perran Foundry, we are very proud to be involved with this project and we look forward to providing a high-quality facility for the local community.”

Get Involved Early

Community organisations, clubs and activity providers are being encouraged to get in touch ahead of the opening to help shape the programme of activities. The team can be contacted at [email protected].