Despite funding setbacks, Waltham Forest Council remains committed to revitalizing the Leyton Cricket Pavilion for community use
Leyton: Waltham Forest has been trying to breathe new life into the cricket pavilion since 2018. They had big dreams of turning it into a food hall by 2021, but things didn’t go as planned.
After two funding bids fell through, the council is still working on ideas to restore the pavilion and the old tin hut. They want to bring it back to life and find someone to run it.
Last December, the council mentioned they were looking for ways to make the pavilion shine again. They want it to be a lively spot that supports local businesses and offers training and jobs.
Originally, they envisioned a restaurant, café, and a market for local produce. But after a £1.5 million funding request was denied in 2019, those plans were scrapped.
They tried again for funding from the Greater London Authority, but that didn’t work out either. Now, they’re chatting with a creative company that focuses on youth and family events.
With the council facing a budget overspend of about £17 million, they’re trying to tighten their funding strategy. They’ve also confirmed that the food hall idea is off the table.
Instead, they’re aiming for the pavilion to be a “destination space” that complements the sports ground. They want to make improvements to the buildings, including repairs and better accessibility.
Residents got involved last summer, sharing their thoughts in workshops. Their ideas were part of the second funding application, which unfortunately didn’t succeed.
Once they have more detailed designs, the council promises to give residents another chance to weigh in. They’ll keep ownership of the sports ground and buildings, and the work shouldn’t disrupt activities there.
