Work is progressing well on the Town Deal funded St Ives Rugby Club scheme to provide new, high-quality sports facilities which enables land for future affordable homes and extra care housing in St Ives.
Led by Cornwall Council and funded by St Ives Town Deal, the £4.9m project has been developed in partnership with St Ives Rugby Club and the RFU and meets the requirements and standards of Sport England. Once complete it will provide a modern clubhouse facility with two full size sports pitches for use by the club and the local community.
As well as relocating the clubhouse building, the scheme involves moving the training facilities to provide a new sports pitch east of its previous site for use by St Ives Rugby Club and the local community, and better access and improved sightlines of the main pitch from the new clubhouse.
Planning permission for the scheme was granted in 2025, with local Cornish contractors Fox Construction and W R Sandow appointed in July 2025. Work formally began on the first phase of the scheme in September 2025 with the demolition of the existing grandstand and the installation of new underground drainage among the first tasks to be carried out.
Since then, the project team has managed several significant challenges, including prolonged severe weather earlier in the year and the discovery of large blue alvin boulders throughout the site. This required modifications to the intended design, with the boulders salvaged through excavation now incorporated into the final landscaping, supporting the distinctive characteristics of the site.
Following the diversion of all the major utilities earlier this year, the foundations have been laid for the club house building and major progress has been made in the construction of the new sport pitch with completion of drainage that will attenuate surface water to prevent downstream impacts.
This marks a key milestone for the project which is now well into the main build phase. Material for the ground floor of the building is due to arrive within the next few weeks, with work on the sports pitch due to be completed by Spring 2027.
Kieren Couch, project lead, said: “It has not been the easiest start to this transformational project; however, the commitment and support from everyone involved have helped overcome many challenges and has established a strong foundation for the ongoing delivery phase. We are grateful for the continued collaboration between the Council, the Rugby Club, contractors and wider partners, and remain focused on delivering a facility that will bring lasting benefits for the club and the local community.”
Chair of St Ives Town Deal Board Andrew Baragwanith, added “This is a very important project both for the Rugby Club and for St Ives. As well as improving sporting facilities in our town, this project will free up land to provide much needed new housing. This is a great example of partnership working as the project would not be happening without the support of the Town Deal Board and Cornwall Council.
“As a near neighbour I have been watching the work taking place on the site with great interest and look forward to seeing the project completed and everyone enjoying the new facilities. “
Local Cornwall Councillor and Mayor of St Ives Andrew Mitchell said “It is great to see the progress which has been made with this project over the last few months. The new facilities will make a huge difference to the Rugby Club and the wider local community and I look forward to enjoying my first drink in the new club house.
The construction of the new clubhouse is due to be completed in Spring 2027.
Although the internal fit out of the new club house was not originally included in the Town Deal project, following further financial support from Town Deal alongside a contribution directly from the Rugby Club, Cornwall Council has agreed that these works will now form part of the project, creating a ready-to-use facility from day one of completion.
The Rugby Club are currently hard at work raising funds to support their contribution commitment and fitting out of the building.
Ian Sanders, Chairman of the Rugby Committee, said: “This project is about far more than bricks and mortar. It’s about creating a home for future generations and protecting everything that grassroots rugby gives our community. The support we’ve already received has been incredible, and we’re excited to continue that journey through a range of fundraising events and sponsorship opportunities over the coming months.”
The relocation of the club house and pitch will free up the land needed to provide affordable homes and extra care housing in the future. Outline planning permission for up to 50 dwellings and up to 70 extra care units with associated open space was also granted in 2025. These works will be delivered in a next phase of work beyond the initial Town Deal investment.
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