The final stages of construction on the new community sports and wellbeing Pavilion at Boscawen Park were completed this week, enabling the building to be formally handed over to Truro City Council. Work will now begin on fitting out the interior of the Pavilion so it is ready for use by the local community from September.
The Mayor of Truro, Councillor Honorary Freeman Chris Wells, was presented with a set of keys to mark the formal handover of the building at a special ceremony which was also attended by Town Deal Board Chairman Alan Stanhope and representatives of the project team, including contractor Fox Construction Solutions and project managers from Ward Williams Associates, and Councillors and officers from Truro City Council.
The Boscawen Park Pavilion project, led by Truro City Council, forms part of the wider £5.2 million project to improve the facilities at Boscawen Park, which is funded by Truro Town Deal with support from Cornwall Council and Truro City Council.
“It is great that with the keys being handed over, the finishing line for this exciting project is now within sight”, said Councillor Wells. “I am looking forward to the opening ceremony and seeing the long-awaited new facilities being used by local sports and community groups.”
Alan Stanhope, Chair of Truro Town Deal Board, added, “We’re excited to see this landmark project reach completion and be handed over to Truro City Council. The new Pavilion, together with the wider improvements across Boscawen Park, will create lasting benefits for residents and strengthen community wellbeing.”
As well as the new building, the wider project has included extending and resurfacing the pétanque pitch, resurfacing the riverside walk, installing new fencing on the riverside of the park, installing new drainage and reseeding the playing fields.
Work on the final stage of the project – dredging the duck pond – is due to begin later in 2026.
Work on the construction of the building began in August 2025. The City Council has worked hard to minimise disruption to the local community, with the children’s play area, formal gardens, tennis courts and café remaining open to the public throughout the construction period. The existing boules / pétanque pitch also remained open for the majority of the building work.
A formal opening ceremony for the new Pavilion is due to take place later in the year.
David Rodda MBE, Town Clerk for Truro City Council, has overseen the development and delivery of the project and commented that “in delivering this project Truro City Council has demonstrated its ambition to deliver continued improvement in the facilities it provides to local residents. The funding secured from the Truro Town Deal has facilitated significant improvements to the playing surfaces at Boscawen Park and the new Pavilion provides a new pitch side facility that we can be proud of”.
Designed to support health, wellbeing and physical activity for people of all ages and abilities, the timber framed building includes a multi-purpose sports hall on the ground floor and two multi-purpose activity spaces on the first floor. These provide modern flexible indoor spaces for sports clubs, community groups, instructors and individuals, alongside welcoming social and support areas. There are also team changing rooms and fully accessible toilets.
Specific features include English larch wood cladding on the exterior of the building and a striking glass atrium on the first floor which fills the communal areas with natural light.
Pay and Play activities on offer will include badminton, pickleball, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, and indoor tennis, making it easy for residents and visitors to access sport and activity on a flexible basis. The Pavilion will also host a wider programme of fitness classes, wellbeing sessions, workshops and community-led activities.
In addition to sport and recreation, the Pavilion will also provide a unique venue within Boscawen Park for meetings, events and conferences, helping to support the long-term sustainability of the facility while maximising its benefit to the wider community.
Newly appointed Manager Katie Wilding is looking forward to seeing the building come to life as clubs, community groups, schools and residents begin to make it their own.
“This is a significant new community asset for Truro, and I’m excited to work with our partners and users to ensure the Pavilion reaches its full potential and becomes a valued part of community life.”
The Pavilion will initially be open to the local community between 9 am and 9pm Monday to Friday and between 8am and 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Bookings for the Pavilion and wider Park Spaces will be made through the Truro City Council website, and people can also contact the team at boscawenpavilion@truro.gov.uk with any enquiries.
People can also follow the Boscawen Park & Pavilion page for information and updates on what is going on.
Truro Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £23.6 million to support a range of projects that will contribute to the city’s regeneration and boost the local economy. Cornwall Council is the lead authority for Cornwall Town Deals and supports the governance role of the Truro Town Deal Board and administrates the fund.
Image Credit: PR4 Photos