Work has begun on the Cornwall Council led project to provide a new 3G community sports pitch at the Truro Sports Hub.
The first phase of the Sports Hub project delivered the floodlit 3000 capacity Football Association compliant football pitch which was completed in 2024 and is being used by Truro City Football Club.
The new all-weather community facility is the next phase of the Sports Hub and will play a vital role in delivering Langarth’s vision of a vibrant, healthy and connected Garden Village.
The community facility is part funded by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation who provided a £746,000 grant towards the cost of the facility. The remaining funding has come from compulsory planning contributions from developers and from the Garden Village project.
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“We’re delighted that works are now underway to deliver a new 3G pitch at Truro Sports Hub and we’re excited to see the new facilities in action.”
Cornwall Football Association has been working closely with the project team and is looking forward to seeing the pitch welcoming its first teams.
“Cornwall FA is excited to see work start on another community 3G pitch in the Duchy. “ said Daniel Greenough, Cornwall FA’s Facilities and Finance Manager. “We have been working hard in the background with various stakeholders to support the development of football and sport participation and these kinds of facilities allow that to happen.”
“Linked with the Cornwall Playing Pitch Strategy and Local Football Facility Plan this development will allow football to be sustained and developed in the area. We cannot wait for this to be opened and will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure maximum benefit for the local community.”
Following hard on the heels of the opening of Fordh Langarth earlier this year, the start of construction on the 3G community pitch is further evidence of the Council’s commitment to provide key infrastructure before work begins on building the new houses.
The design of the 3G pitch complies with current Football Foundation and Football Association guidance to ensure that materials used are appropriate for use in this environment. The construction is being carried out by Tiger Turf (UK) Ltd/McArdle Sport Tec.
Mark Taylor, Framework Manager on behalf of the TigerTurf and McArdle Sport Tec consortium said ‘We are immensely proud to be delivering the new 3G community sports pitch at Truro Sports Hub in partnership with Cornwall Council and the Football Foundation. TigerTurf and McArdle Sport Tec have worked together since the inception of the Football Foundation’s AGP supplier framework, and together our partnership has delivered nearly 400 artificial sports pitches through the framework.
“Truro Sports Hub is another important example of how high-quality, artificial turf pitches can support grassroots football, widen access to sport and help communities stay active throughout the year.’
The facility will be used by local clubs who were approached as part of the Council’s funding application to the Football Foundation, with Threemilestone Football Club, Truro City Youth Football Club and Grasshoppers Football Club identified as anchor football clubs for the project.
The Council will shortly be appointing an operator for the facility which will be managed in line with similar 3G facilities across the country.
Future phases of the Sports Hub project will include the provision of new changing rooms and a club house.
Construction is due to be completed in Spring 2027, with the pitch initially open with temporary facilities. Permanent facilities will follow later. Once complete, the new pitch will provide 7 days a week, all weather floodlit training facilities for clubs and organisations in the Truro and surrounding areas.
The facility will be used by local clubs who were approached as part of the Council’s funding application to the Football Foundation, with Threemilestone Football Club, Truro City Youth Football Club and Grasshoppers Football Club identified as anchor clubs for the project.
“We are delighted to see work begin on constructing the new community pitch “ said Lee Goodall, Chair of Threemilestone Football Club. “We are the only football team and club in Threemilestone and the immediate surrounding areas and being able to use the new pitch will be a huge step forward for us.
“We have been without a permanent ground of our own since 2013, forcing us to consistently seek, and hire, other pitches often at unaffordably high rates. This has affected our ability to not only build our current team but to develop opportunities for other age groups and introduce a girls’ football team.
“Grassroots football brings families and friends together and strengthens local identity as well as building long lasting relationships. We are very grateful to Cornwall Council and the Langarth Garden Village project team for identifying us as an anchor club. Having safe, consistent, year‑round access to an all-weather pitch will give future footballing wannabees in our community a great place to learn, grow and develop”.
The completion of the community pitch project will mean that the Truro Sports Hub will become the largest permanent sports events facility in Cornwall. All partners are committed to ensuring that the new central and up to date facilities are accessible to the existing communities of Threemilestone, Truro, Kenwyn Parish and surrounding parishes and the local clubs operating within them, as well as the new community at Langarth.
As well as the new Sports Hub, the plans for the Garden Village include providing a wide range of other community assets. These include the first primary school, a community building, village squares and business centres; health facilities, parks and urban squares, green spaces, water features, cycle and walking routes and cultural facilities. Work is taking place to develop a stewardship scheme to manage these assets.