Major enhancement of Exeter playing fields set to start

Work will begin this week on a multi-million-pound project to improve and enhance one of the city’s much-loved green spaces for the use of current and future generations.

Work will begin this week on a multi-million-pound project to improve and enhance one of the city’s much-loved green spaces for the use of current and future generations.

Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT), the partner charity of Exeter City Football Club, is due to begin work at the 40-acre King George V Playing Fields on Topsham Road.

And the charity has secured almost £2million from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation towards the ambitious project.

Phase one of the work includes two new Football Foundation PlayZones, a 3G pitch and refurbishment to the existing pavilion to include accessible changing rooms and community-use rooms.

The project start follows a public consultation last year, which informed the design and direction of the plans.

The site is a priority within Exeter City Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy, which reviews current and future demand for formal sports facilities.

Working in partnership, ECCT and the council will deliver the improvements, with the fields to be leased to ECCT on a 50-year agreement. Work is commencing following approval of the lease by the council.

The fields are one of hundreds established across the UK following the death of King George V in 1936 to ‘promote and assist in the establishment of playing fields for the use and enjoyment of the people’. They are legally protected by the Fields in Trust charity, whose mission is to preserve and safeguard the land for public benefit.

Jamie Vittles, Chief Executive of Exeter City Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to bring this project to life and grateful to the many organisations, including Exeter City Council, Fields in Trust and the Football Foundation, who have worked closely with us to make it a reality.

“The incredible contribution from the Football Foundation brings a serious external investment into Exeter, helping us provide the best facilities for our whole community.”

Jamie added: “We are taking our role as custodians of this valuable green space very seriously. This is about creating an accessible and improved space, which meets the requirements of 21^st century lifestyles, whilst preserving a wonderful natural resource and creating a community asset which will be here for many generations to come.”

The Football Foundation helps fund grassroots sports facilities where the need is greatest and impact will be strongest. It will be contributing £1,997,354, towards the new FIFA-quality 3G pitch, refurbishment of the Pavilion and the two PlayZones. The project has been through a full planning process with Exeter City Council, with approval granted in August last year.

As part of the scheme, 65 new trees will be planted in partnership with the council.

These will form a community orchard, as well as providing screening and enhancement of the area. The planting will offset the felling of two oak trees. Both trees are in the third quarter of their natural life, and one has been severely damaged by squirrels stripping the bark, causing branches to fail from the upper canopy and resulting in a distorted and unstable upper crown.

Historically, part of the site was covered with a traditional orchard. Reintroducing fruit trees will enhance biodiversity while providing long-term benefits for the community.The second phase of the project is due to include the provision of Padel courts, an extension to the existing pavilion to incorporate a community café and social space, woodland trails and walkways, and further improvements to grass pitches.

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure and Healthy Living, said: “It’s great news that the major improvements for these much-loved playing fields are about to begin.

“The 3G pitch will allow many more games to go ahead which would otherwise have been lost due to bad weather, while much-needed refurbishment of the changing facilities will also be a major boost.

“I also welcome the woodland trails and walkways that will be created during the second phase for those who simply enjoy walking and being in this beautiful green space.

“The local community and everyone who uses King George V will benefit from the improvements that are being planned by ECCT, and this shows what can be done by working collaboratively with our parters in the city.”

Further details are available at www.kgvexeter.com/

Email any questions or enquiries to kgv@ecct.co.uk