Another significant step has been taken towards the construction of a new pavilion at Ransomes Sports Ground in Ipswich.

The borough council has approved the construction of the new pavilion and appointed a contractor for the work – the final stage of a million-pound plus investment in the ground.

The new pavilion itself will cost £844,000, but the cost of other works – and the demolition of the 1960s sports pavilion which had become dangerous – will push the total cost to £1,126,000.

The council has secured a £99,000 grant from the Football Foundation because of the importance of the pavilion to Ransomes FC. It is also hoping to secure £34,000 from the English Cricket Board and £15,000 from the football and cricket clubs which will use the building.

Money had been set aside for the work, but the council’s executive has granted a further £279,000 to allow the work to start.

Construction is due to start in September and the new pavilion should be open by Easter next year.

Portfolio holder for leisure, Bryony Rudkin, is looking forward to the start of work: “I am delighted we have got to this stage at last.

“The work should now start in a couple of months and by next year we should have a pavilion that will be a real asset for the clubs who use the sports ground.”

The previous clubhouse was demolished at the end of 2013, and sports players have had to use temporary changing and toilet facilities since then.

The original clubhouse was declared unsafe during a survey shortly after the borough took over the management of the sports ground.

As part of the improvements to the ground the gates to the sports ground, put up as a war memorial to employees from Ransomes who lost their lives in the two world wars, are to be restored and given a more prominent position.