A VILLAGE pavilion could get an upgrade to provide more space for pre-school children before hundreds of new homes are built.

James Abbott, district councillor for Silver End and Cressing, has asked Braintree Council if it would help to pay for an extension to the pavilion in Silver Street.

Around £200,000 would be needed to extend the building, which includes changing rooms, toilets, and a kitchen, and is only used by Silver End United Football Club on weekends.

Councillor Abbott has requested £100,000 from Braintree Council to help make the idea a reality.

Plans for the new building, which could form an ‘L’ shape and would create enough space for two pre-schools to use, have yet to be submitted.

In his funding bid, councillor Abbott wrote: “There is strong local community support to bring the pavilion back into multi-use.

“There is a particular need for more space for pre-school children in the village, a pressure that will grow as more housing is built.

“The two - one existing, one waiting to start - pre-schools have both asked me to help them and the football club wants the building to be better used.”

He added: “Extending the Silver Street pavilion, in what is still essentially a new building, will offer modern facilities and more choice for the village.”

The pavilion has only been used by the football club since it was rebuilt a decade ago.

If funding can be secured from the council, other external grants and section 106 money from housing developers, the size of the pavilion could be doubled with an extension to the north side and to the front.

The only other public meeting places in the village include the village hall in Broadway, the bowls club pavilion in Broadway, the wooden football club pavilion behind village hall and the three churches.

But councillor Abbott said these options all pose “limitations” for use by pre-schools.

Gladman Developments plans to build 350 houses off Western Road and Cemex have a further 60 homes planned near the new Wood Grove development off Boars Tye Road in Silver End, which councillor Abbott fears will put further pressure on meeting places.

If the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee agrees to support the capital bid, the recommendation will be made to the Cabinet and this would be discussed at the meeting on February 4.