Clubs and charities have until 14 November to register interest in running Rawreth Lane's pavilion and 15-acre ground on a lease of up to 25 years.
A sports club, charity or community group could take over the pavilion and playing fields on Rawreth Lane in Rayleigh, on a lease of up to about 25 years. Rochford District Council, which owns the site, has opened an expressions of interest process, and groups have until 14 November 2026 to put their name forward.
The site covers about 15 acres of sports and recreation ground and a sports pavilion, with access to public parking in the car park next door. The council wants one tenant to lease the pavilion and run the ground under a separate pitch management agreement.
The cricket and football stay
The existing cricket and football pitches are not up for change. The council said “a key requirement will be the continued management and maintenance of the existing cricket and football pitches, while supporting wider recreational and community use of the site.”
It is looking for organisations that “can build on the site’s existing sporting provision, maintain public access to the recreation ground and maximise opportunities for community engagement through the pavilion and surrounding facilities,” and said it was “particularly interested in innovative approaches that will help ensure the facility remains a well-used and sustainable asset for local residents and user groups.”
What the tenant takes on
According to the council’s Rawreth Pavilion page, the tenant will be responsible for:
- all ongoing maintenance of the pavilion
- health and safety and statutory compliance
- day-to-day running costs
- capital investment to fit out the pavilion for its intended use
The council will provide a condition survey of the building before any lease is completed. The pavilion will carry a market rent, with terms to be agreed, and the council says any rent will be eligible for a social and community value discount depending on the use proposed and the community benefit it can show.
The income would come from hiring out the sports pitches under the pitch management agreement and from letting the pavilion for “sporting, community and other appropriate activities.”
The council’s page says it wants “a financially stable organisation with a commitment to working with the existing sport users of the site and to develop the facility into a vibrant sporting and community venue for the District.”
How to apply
The process runs in four stages, according to the council:
- Register interest by 14 November 2026 by emailing assetmanagement@rochford.gov.uk with the code “Rawreth EoI”.
- On 17 November 2026, everyone who has registered will be sent the application details, the evaluation criteria and more information on the pavilion.
- Applications close on 18 December 2026.
- Applications are scored, with an appointment planned for early January 2027.
The council stresses this is an initial call for interest only: it is not obliged to go ahead with any proposal and can end the process at any stage, and bidders carry their own costs.
The pavilion is on Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS11 8SW, and clubs from Southend and Leigh can apply as well as Rayleigh groups: the council asks for any suitably experienced organisation. Full details are on the council’s website.
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