Royal playing field gets pavilion boost

The plans are for revamping the former sports pavilion building at the King George V Playing Field, in Palgrove Road, between Hylton Road and Chester Road.

Overseen by the Pallion Action Group (PAG), the new-look pavilion is being lined-up as a hub for more community-focused activities such as youth groups, meeting and rehearsal rooms, and office space for local groups and organisations.

The pavilion will also be part of the wider-PAG partnership and work closely with the Connor Brown Trust on promoting positive activities among young people.

Work on the pavilion is being helped with a £243,106 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller sits on the Sunderland City Board, a partnership group that also oversees approvals for UKSPF grants.

He said: "There's opportunities for further support in the community with a refurbishment of the pavilion building and we're happy to support PAG in these plans so it helps deliver more good works for residents. The pavilion building is going to be an important asset for the community."

The playing field is a protected site but the pavilion has fallen into disrepair and attracted anti-social behaviour since sports clubs stopped using it as they either disbanded or moved to other venues.

Tenders and contracts for the building works are now being finalised with a view to beginning work later this year and completion next year.

Karen Noble, PAG Manager, said: "With this assistance from the prosperity fund, the City Council and others, we're going to make it a community asset again. We are operating at capacity from our current premises in Pallion and a new base here at the pavilion offers us more opportunities. Part of these opportunities are going to be about anti-knife crime work as we work closely with the Connor Brown Trust and engage young people in positive activities."

The first round of UKSPF grants were announced in June 2024 when £3.3m was granted to 'communities and place' projects in Sunderland.

Up to March 2025, Sunderland has a UKSPF allocation of £14m to invest in projects that are aligned to and build on the City Plan for a more dynamic, healthy, smart and vibrant Sunderland.

Further support for projects and grant announcements is continuing. More information at: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/UKSPF