Plans to demolish Barrack Road sports pavilion in Christchurch given green light by BCP Council

AN application to demolish a Christchurch sports pavilion after it was repeatedly vandalised has been approved by BCP Council.

The building at the Barrack Road recreation ground has been boarded up ever since being targeted during Covid lockdowns.

The council do not have immediate plans to replace the facility.

In its application, BCP stated that its proposal was to leave a foundation concrete slab intact “until plans are brought forward for another development that fits with both the Christchurch Central Conservation Area and the village green designation”.

The pavilion was due to be transferred back to Christchurch Town Council under an agreement that certain facilities and assets would be returned to its control.

But it did not go ahead due to the state of the building, which the town council accused BCP Council of allowing to go "to rack and ruin" through neglect.

The town council has called for BCP to provide a replacement pavilion “as soon as possible”, saying it was a “valuable asset” to the area.