THE first phase of a £40million student village will open today.

Lesley Griffiths, deputy minister for science, innovation and skills, will officially unveil the 156-room complex at Wrexham FC’s Racecourse ground.

The accommodation has already been snapped up by students studying at Glyndwr University for the coming year.

Professor Michael Scott, vice-chancellor of Glyndwr, said he was proud to see the first students move in.

“We’re thrilled that the first phase has been completed. It looks fantastic and will be enjoyed by students for many years to come,” he said.

“The university’s primary concern is to teach students but we needed a new halls of residence and have been pleased to work with Wrexham Village and Wrexham FC to provide a facility which will be a tremendous asset for the town and North East Wales.”

Ms Griffiths AM added: “The opening of the first phase of this multi-million pound student accommodation marks an important milestone and is already proving a popular facility for new students.

“It is a significant investment and will be a real boost for the university.”

The development is the result of a partnership between the facility’s owners, Wrexham Village Ltd, Wrexham FC and Glyndwr.

Ian Roberts, director of Wrexham Village, said: “We’re delighted to have worked in partnership to secure provision of modern, energy-efficient accommodation that fulfils the needs of Glyndwr University and its students.

“I hope that Wrexham Village will become an iconic building which everyone connected with the town can feel proud of.”

The Co-operative Bank provided a £2.85 million loan for phase one of the development.

Plans for the scheme were first unveiled in December 2008 as part of wider plans to redevelop the Racecourse ground and boost Wrexham FC’s finances.