A PLAN to completely replace a Droitwich sports pavilion could be back on.

St Peter’s Field Project had originally aimed to have the pavilion, used by football and cricket clubs in the town, knocked down and a modern facility built in its place.

This was then estimated to cost too much at £480,000 and instead a more basic refurbishment and extension, likely to cost £145,000, was settled on.

However, St Peter’s Field Sports Association secretary Peter Field told town councillors last week, due to a “slight change of direction” the full rebuild could be realised after all.

“With considerable help from [town] Councillor [Sital] Harris, we saw an opportunity to realise that new build after all, including a proper community centre,” Mr Field said at a meeting last Monday.

“Instead of us trying to do this on our own, we see a multi-agency project.

“We have gained the support of Wychavon [District Council], and of the ECB – England and Wales Cricket Board – and we would also foresee a partnership with local schools, maybe the church and other clubs and societies.”

The project has already received £15,000 from the town council’s share of the Government’s New Homes Bonus, which Mr Field said is about to be matched through internal fundraising.

Wychavon District Council has already granted planning permission for the work at the 50-year-old pavilion, but Mr Field admitted while there is progress, it has been slow, partly due to the lease only having eight years to run.

“When you are trying to raise funds externally, people are looking for 20, 25, 30 years,” he said.

He said the conditions include an archaeological survey and dig to be undertaken, while some committee members have had to have time off recently due to illness and family reasons.

Cllr Harris thanked Mr Field for helping over the last 18 months with the project “moving in the right direction”.

“It hasn’t been easy at all, but I think we are making fantastic progress with the multi-agency approach and we’ve got this idea that we are going to maintain a community element to the legacy of the land and the legacy of the clubs as well.

“It is for the community, it’s a whole project where we’ve got lots of agencies involved, lots of outside interests wanting to put into it, so it’s important to continue to drive it forward.

“It is slow, but I think we are making slow, steady progress for the community, so thank you for your patience in that,” she added.