Portsmouth’s KGV Football Complex has secured two prestigious awards at the South East Centre for the Built Environment Awards 2025, winning both Client of the Year and Integration and Collaborative Working categories for the £8.1 million Cosham project.
The South East Centre for the Built Environment Awards recognised the exceptional partnership and teamwork that delivered the state-of-the-art football and youth facility in north Portsmouth. Portsmouth City Council spearheaded the transformation, supported by funding from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation.
The accolades celebrate the remarkable collaboration behind the £8.1 million development. Portsmouth City Council partnered with the Football Foundation to establish a contemporary football and youth hub, replacing a deteriorated, vandalised pavilion that lacked all-weather pitches.
With backing from Portsmouth City Council, the UK Government (including Youth Investment Fund and Changing Places Fund), and the Football Foundation, the scheme demonstrates how early stakeholder involvement, unified vision, and coordinated delivery can navigate complex obstacles whilst achieving outstanding results.
Portsmouth City Council assembled diverse stakeholders from the project’s inception, incorporating funders, community organisations, and technical specialists to develop a facility addressing the city’s strategic requirements. Council in-house teams provided comprehensive support, including parks and open spaces officers, procurement specialists, architects, landscape architects, construction inspectors, quantity surveyors, mechanical & electrical engineers, and building services professionals.
Simultaneously appointing Hampshire FA as the complex’s future operator alongside LST Projects as design and build contractor created a distinctive collaborative framework. This approach ensured operational expertise informed the design process from early stages.
The project’s success stemmed from:
Continuous stakeholder and community engagement throughout the development process.
Cross-disciplinary integrated delivery, aligning design, construction, and operational requirements.
Collaborative decision-making for effective risk management and resolving complex land ownership challenges.
Transparent supply chain practices, featuring prompt payments and clear communication across all levels.
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Cllr Steve Pitt, Portsmouth City Council Leader, commented:
“These accolades powerfully validate collaborative achievement. The KGV Football Complex exemplifies partnership, uniting professionals, partners, and community members to create something exceptional for Portsmouth.”
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport, added:
“This reflects our dedication to delivering outstanding sports facilities throughout Portsmouth, ensuring accessibility for all whilst supporting diverse activities. We’re progressing our journey, with additional exciting developments planned for coming years, providing sustainable sport and leisure futures citywide.”
Jimmy Marsh, Senior Quantity Surveyor from LST Projects, said:
“Working collaboratively with PCC and the FA throughout the construction process was genuinely rewarding for the LST team. Transforming the derelict pavilion and surrounding areas into an outstanding sporting and community facility has been tremendously fulfilling, and SECBE recognition with two awards represents fantastic achievement for everyone involved.”
Neil Casser, Hampshire FA CEO, stated:
“We’re thrilled King George V Football Complex gained recognition at the SECBE Construction Industry Excellence Awards in the Integration and Collaborative Working category. This appropriately honours the collective effort enabling the project. King George V Football Complex provides an excellent hub facility that generations throughout the city and surrounding areas will enjoy for years ahead. We also congratulate Portsmouth City Council for securing the ‘Client of the Year’ award, creating double success.”
Since Hampshire FA assumed management in October 2024, the KGV Football Complex has attracted over 70,000 visits, achieving peak usage of 81% capacity. The facility is already revolutionising grassroots sport and youth participation citywide, offering a dynamic, inclusive environment for positive activities.
The Football Foundation represents the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity delivering exceptional grassroots facilities, creating improved playing opportunities whilst transforming lives and communities where most needed.
The Foundation aims to unlock pitch potential, ensuring every community enjoys excellent playing facilities regardless of gender, race, disability or location.
Since establishment in 2000, the Foundation has invested £1.2 billion improving grassroots facilities nationwide – including 1,200 3G pitches, 14,000 grass pitches and 1,600 changing rooms. This investment has attracted additional £1.5 billion partnership funding – totalling over £2.7 billion grassroots football investment.
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Partnering with local authorities, County FAs and community stakeholders, the Foundation has developed Local Football Facility Plans for every English local authority. These Plans provide blueprints for grassroots football facility improvements each community requires and deserves nationwide.
Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for Foundation information and local area Plans.
