Ambitious plans have been unveiled to revamp the sports facilities at Somerton Recreation Ground, a 17-acre site on the western edge of Somerton, Somerset. The ground, bordered by the B3153 Langport Road, Patch Meadows estate, and St Cleers residential area, currently hosts a variety of sports including bowls, football, rugby, and tennis. It is also home to the Somerton Sports and Social Club, a popular local event venue.
The Somerton Recreation Ground Trust has submitted outline proposals to reconfigure the entire site, with a focus on centralizing amenities and catering to the expanding local community. Central to the plan is the demolition of the existing sports club building and the construction of a new 1,200-square-metre pavilion in the heart of the site, while relocating the children’s play area to the west.
The new pavilion will feature eight modern changing rooms designed to meet FA and RFU standards, a fully equipped gym, a café with a serving hatch, a physiotherapy room, office space, and flexible event spaces complete with a bar and kitchen to serve a variety of functions.
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To address current parking challenges and reduce overspill into neighboring roads, the existing sports club will be demolished to expand parking capacity. A total of 144 parking spaces will be added near the secondary entrance off Gassons Lane, complemented by around 30 spaces retained at the primary Langport Road entrance. Additionally, an overflow parking area near the northern edge by the football pitches will help accommodate larger crowds during peak times.
The tennis courts will be relocated to the southern part of the site, with four courts available to both members and visitors. The project also includes the construction of a new indoor multi-use sports hall centrally located on the grounds, alongside a new barn to house maintenance equipment, including a tractor and lawnmower, replacing current shipping containers.
Importantly, the existing bowling green as well as the football and rugby pitches at the western end will remain untouched, preserving key sports facilities during the transformation.
A spokesperson from Orme Architecture, representing the trust, highlighted the rationale behind the design: “The site layout has been shaped by a single, overarching principle: relocating the sports pavilion to the centre of the site to provide convenient, shared access for all clubs and users. Parking improvements are integral to the plan, addressing the current issues of overspill parking during busy days while maintaining existing highway access.”
Somerset Council is expected to deliver a decision on the redevelopment proposals by early autumn.