Iconic pavilion set to be transformed for city

PLANS to renovate an iconic Hereford riverside building have been approved.

The Castle Green Pavilion near the cathedral is to receive £1.5 million from the Government’s Stronger Hereford fund, which is to cover a range of improvements in the city worth £22m in all.

The “revitalised” building will include a cafe, community meeting space, local arts and heritage centre, and a revamped home for a local youth canoeing group.

It was transferred in 2018 to voluntary group Friends of Castle Green, which has worked with city and county councils and the community to bring forward the plans. Until now it lacked planning permission and listed building consent for the work.

The group’s chairman Paddy

Nugent told Herefordshire Council’s planning committee yesterday: “These plans come with a plea to grasp the opportunity before us and work with us to make this project come alive for our community.”

Ward councillor Jeremy Milln congratulated the friends group for their “vision and diligence” for preparing the scheme, which “has the capacity to be a huge asset for the county”.

He added the grade II-listed building had been “spoiled” by later “clumsy and insensitive” additions which would now be removed. Planning permission and listed building consent were granted unanimously.

The friends group said it expects to issue an invitation to tender for the work early next month. It can be contacted on operations@friendsof castlegreen.org.uk