Plans for a new £6.9 million community sports village have been approved as part of a drive to improve local facilities.

The project at Woodside Playing Fields in Horseshoe Lane, Garston, was given the green light at a borough council cabinet meeting this week.

It will include renovating the buildings to provide energy efficient facilities for cricket, football and boxing for all ages, as well as spaces for shared community use.

There will also be modern and accessible changing rooms for clubs already based there – including Watford Town Cricket Club, the junior and adult football clubs and Watford Amateur Boxing Club.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: "We are thrilled to announce the start of this new and exciting project, which will create up-to-date facilities for the boxing, football and cricket clubs at Woodside Playing Fields.

Watford Observer: Woodside Cricket Pavilion.Woodside Cricket Pavilion. (Image: Watford Borough Council)

“The buildings will gain from energy efficiency improvements and the new facilities will offer modern and disability-accessible amenities for a variety of sports and all ages and abilities.

“These developments are designed to promote an active lifestyle and encourage greater use of the park by residents and visitors alike."

New public toilets and a ‘changing places’ facility are also planned to cater for increased use of the site. Detailed design and planning work will be done through the remainder of this year with construction largely in 2024 and completion in early 2025.

Council documents show £415k is expected to be paid towards the Woodside Sports Village scheme this financial year, before £2 million in 2023/24 and just under £4.5 million the following year.

Watford Observer: Woodside Playing Fields.Woodside Playing Fields.

The plans have been in the pipeline for years and were previously delayed over cost concerns amid rising inflation.

At a finance scrutiny meeting last summer, councillor Mark Watkin said: “It’s complex because it’s a relationship with a lot of the sports groups and what they want, and it’s trying to get to what will actually be deliverable and affordable because the costs of that project were beginning to go through the roof. There has been a lot of rethinking going on.”