Plans for revamped Soham pavilion unveiled to councillors

SOHAM Town Council has given its backing to “landmark” plans to redevelop the town’s historic Walter Gidney Pavilion.

Councillors unanimously approved a presentation given by Cambridge-based architects Saunders Boston last Monday, where they outlined their vision for the £1.25 million redevelopment.

Under the plans, the pavilion, in Fountain Lane, would be expanded from 459sq m to 628sq m in size, while an extension at the rear of the building, parts of which date back to the 19th Century, would be demolished and rebuilt.

The revamped pavilion would feature new toilets, kitchens and storage space, an enlarged main hall and exhibition space and remodelled council chamber, meetings rooms and tourist information centre.

The pavilion’s approach road, parking facilities and entrance area would also be improved.

Darren Heffer, divisional director of Saunders Boston, the architects appointed by Soham Town Council to design and manage the project, said: “I am delighted by the unanimous decision by the council to move the project forward.

“Saunders Boston has been working closely with the council for some time to deliver a first class focal point for the residents of Soham and the surrounding community. “We believe the pavilion would become a landmark building that would be more widely utilised by the ever expanding population of the town and would provide a state of the art facility that Soham fully deserves.

“We look forward with great anticipation to assisting the forward-thinking council to bringing the scheme to fruition in the near future.”

Mr Heffer said a planning application would be submitted in the summer and, if all went according to plan, work could begin early next year.