Major plans unveiled to transform main Wrexham gateway including new 5,000-seat Kop Stand

A masterplan has been drawn up for the Mold Road corridor into the town, which could also see the development of a new transport hub at Wrexham General Railway Station, a conference venue below the stadium seating, and a four star hotel nearby.

It was commissioned by Wrexham Council through funding from the Welsh Government, with the football club and Glyndŵr University also backing the ambitions.

One of the aims is to regenerate the Kop end of the Racecourse Ground, which has stood derelict for more than a decade, to take the overall capacity back above 15,000.

The move is hoped to attract international football to the region on a regular basis following a recent friendly between Wales and Trinidad and Tobago at the stadium.

Pictured from left to right are Wrexham Council chief executive Ian Bancroft, Wrexham AFC director Spencer Harris, Welsh Government minister Ken Skates, Wrexham Council leader Mark Pritchard and Glyndwr University vice-chancellor Professor Maria Hinf

Funding has yet to be agreed for the mix of public and privately-led schemes, but each organisation has expressed its commitment.

Wrexham Council leader Mark Pritchard said it would help regenerate one of the main routes in the town by providing new business, academic, housing and sporting infrastructure.

He said: “There is a new want and desire to improve Wrexham as a place and as a region.

“Wrexham Football Club has been let down in the past by individuals and things that are outside our control.

“For the first time, the right people are around the table and we can deliver this subject to the funding.

“You’ve only got to think of what it will look like driving down Mold Road, with the university looking brand new, and you’ll have the new stand and a hotel at the back of it – it’s going to be fantastic.”

A new Kop stand was previously promised by the football’s club’s former owners Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts, along with student accommodation.

However, while hundreds of flats were built on part of the club’s car park, the new seating was never delivered, leading to anger among supporters.

The flats owned by Wrexham Village Ltd, which still lists Mr Moss and Mr Roberts as directors, were later sold to the university for £11m, but the football club did not receive any of the proceeds.

The local authority’s chief executive Ian Bancroft said all parties involved were conscious of the history of the site.

He said: “This can only be a success if the football club has fully bought into it and agrees with what’s happening.

Wrexham AFC's Kop stand

“Everybody recognises that the football club and their confidence, agreement and influence within designing these plans is really critical.”

Despite falling short of promotion from the National League in recent years, the football club’s financial fortunes have improved under the ownership of Wrexham Supporters Trust.

Director Spencer Harris said the outlined scheme would deliver major benefits for the club and wider area.

He said: “As well as being the home of Wrexham AFC, the Racecourse Ground is an asset of strategic importance for Wales.

“Along with our partners in this vision, we are extremely excited about this regeneration project including the potential to make the stadium a viable option for international events.”

It is understood some elements of the masterplan would require compulsory purchase orders to be completed to take control of land around Mold Road.

Funding talks have not yet concluded, but the Welsh Government is viewed as a potential enabler of the project.

Ken Skates, Economy and Transport Minister, said: “The plans under development by the Wrexham Gateway Partnership aim to deliver transformational change on a local and regional level.

“There is much work ahead and together we have the opportunity to achieve improved connectivity within Wrexham and across the wider area as well as creating business premises which could drive strong economic growth.”

Meanwhile, Glyndwr University is currently planning to start work on the £60m revamp of its main campus on Mold Road.

Seven of the nine planning applications it has entered were approved on Monday.

However, councillors denied permission for two housing developments in New Broughton and Rhosnesni, which it said were key to funding the scheme.

Despite the setback, the university’s vice-chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar has also backed the proposals.

She said: “The Mold Road regeneration will create a much improved gateway into Wrexham for residents, students and visitors.

“This feeds into our Campus 2025 strategy which is about the university and Wrexham as a whole for the future prosperity of the town.”

The proposals will be discussed by the council’s ruling executive board at a meeting next Tuesday.

A feasibility study is expected to be completed by this autumn to confirm which elements of the scheme will move forward.