New Houghton Pavilion building set to be officially opened in May

The pavilion, based at Weir Lane at Houghton-on-the-Hill, is set to be formally opened at a ceremony on Saturday May 9 by Member of Parliament for Stamford and Rutland Alicia Kearns MP, and Harborough District Council chairman Peter James.

Work on the new building has taken almost six years, with the project funded by grants from Harborough District Council’s Section 106 fund, the UK Government Community Ownership Fund and the Football Foundation.

Further contributions were received from the Edith Murphy Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and a community crowdfunding campaign.

The building contains a large space for community groups and events, and private hirings, as well as changing facilities for sports teams, including the Houghton Rangers junior, girls and senior football team.

A pavilion has stood on Houghton Field since the 1970s, with the Houghton Field Association saying the previous building had becoming ‘dilapidated’ and in need of upgrades.

Since it was available to use at the start of March, the space has attracted new community groups including pilates and tai-chi, as well as exercise classes, while a Pavilion Pantry has been established alongside the Trussell Trust.

Trustees say the new building is designed to be energy efficient, with features including an air source heat pump, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, and a solar panel and battery system.

In a statement the Houghton Field Association said: “The trustees hope this will provide an important community facility for the village and surrounding area for many years.”

Current facilities at Houghton Field alongside the new pavilion include a field of more than seven acres with two full-sized and one junior football pitch, three floodlit tennis courts, a children’s play area, an outside gymnasium and a perimeter walking and running track.

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