Ewhurst Recreation Ground in Surrey is to benefit from improved community sports facilities, thanks to a £315,880 grant from the Football Foundation.

A two-storey changing pavilion will replace the existing wooden pavilion and the grass pitches will be upgraded to include a full size grass football pitch, a junior size grass football pitch and a mini-soccer pitch.

Work commenced on 28 March and completion is expected by the start of the 2009/10 season.

Richard Cleaves, chair of Ewhurst Parish Council, said: "We are pleased to see the new building taking shape; it has been a long time in the planning. The work on the improvement of the pitches starts in June, which will bring them up to FA standards.

"The whole project will upgrade all the facilities for the football clubs and youth club, plus the local community, when it is finished."

Sports Solutions GB supported the development of the project, which has also received financial support from the Youth Capital Fund, a High Sheriff Youth Award and Grassroots Grants.

Managing director of the Sports consultancy company, Chris Bevan, said: "We are delighted to start on site at Ewhurst Recreation Ground on this eagerly anticipated and important sports facility. It is always exciting to reach this stage in a sports development project and that is particularly true with Ewhurst which has a great need for the new facility."