CONSTRUCTION of the new multi-use Community Sports Hub building at Boscawen Park began in earnest this week, with Truro mayor Cllr Chris Wells formally cutting the first turf on the site.

Led by Truro City Council and funded by Truro Town Deal with support from Cornwall Council, the £5.2 million project will provide new and improved indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities at Boscawen Park.

The building work is expected to take in the region of nine months. The new building will include flexible indoor spaces suitable for indoor sports use, as well as for other activities such as conferences, community and family events, workshops and training, and arts and crafts groups.

Also attending the turf cutting ceremony were mayoress Nicola Carveth, Truro Town Deal Board Chair Alan Stanhope, town clerk David Rodda MBE, and representatives from contractor Fox Construction Solutions and the Boscawen Park Sports Hub project team, including project managers from construction consultants Ward Williams Associates, Kast Architects and Mei Loci Landscape Designs.

“It was an honour to cut the turf for such an important project” said Cllr Wells. “This is bringing to fruition a long-term ambition of Truro City Council to improve the community and sports facilities at Boscawen Park, and we are thankful that the Truro Town Deal funding has made this possible.”

Mr Stanhope added: "The Community Sports Hub at Boscawen Park is a sound investment in Truro’s future, adding high-quality sports and leisure facilities that will benefit residents of all ages. It’s also excellent to see a local contractor leading the build, ensuring that this project not only strengthens our community facilities but also supports local businesses.”

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Truro City Council on this long awaited project” said Kevin Bate, director of Fox Construction Solutions, which is based in Perran Foundry. “We are committed to delivering quality and excellence to ensure the success of this project.”

In June 2021, Truro was awarded £23.6 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund to support a range of projects that will contribute to the city’s regeneration and boost the local economy. These are being delivered by Truro Town Deal Board in partnership with Cornwall Council.

As part of wider improvements at Boscawen Park, the Town Deal-funded project will also see the pétanque pitch extended and improved, the riverside walk resurfaced, and new fencing installed on the riverside of the park.

Last month also saw work begin on improving the grass playing pitches to enable them to be used for longer periods of the year. The pitches will be closed to all users to allow improvement works to be carried out and the new grass surface to be established. Competitive sports are expected to resume on the playing surfaces in April 2026.

The children’s play area, formal gardens, tennis courts and café will remain open to the public throughout the construction period, and the existing boules/pétanque pitch will also be available for use during the majority of the building work.