This project oversees the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grade II Listed Pavilion at Castle Green, Hereford.

 

Set on the banks of the iconic River Wye, this prominent building occupies a fantastic vantage point over the site of the long lost Hereford Castle - Castle Green – together with the Bishop’s Meadows playing fields on the opposing side of the river. The proposals were put together to provide a community café facility, together with flexible community meeting spaces, alongside a revived home for the Hereford Youth Canoe Centre (HYCC).

 

From the outset, the process involved close collaboration with the Friends of Castle Green CIC, working together to find ways to make the building more functional, accessible and welcoming to both existing and new users. The confusing assembly of piecemeal historical deconstruction, infill and later 1950s accumulations are peeled away as part of the intervention, restoring order and legibility to the building.

 

A clear public frontage invites interaction and exploration of the historic veranda, reintroducing the long lost pediment over the entrance Portico. Combined with a robust, contemporary ‘Pavilion’ addition formed of copper, glass and stone, the proposals elevate an underutilised and misunderstood public building into an inviting beacon of activity, designed to sit gracefully within the historic landscape setting.

 

It has been a real pleasure joining the Friends of Castle Green on this journey to deliver change for the betterment of Hereford residents. Living and working in the area, being a part of the very same local community that this space will serve in future has brought an added sense of connection, and it is exciting to now be one step closer to seeing the vision realised.

 

The project has been made possible thanks to the tireless efforts of the FoCG and to the successful £22.4million funding bid for the City of Hereford via the Stronger Towns Fund / Stronger Hereford group. The scheme was unanimously approved at planning committee yesterday, with full planning officer support together with widespread positive response from the local community during the application window.

 

Works are currently progressing on site, with a target date for completion of Autumn 2024.