Overwhelming support to Wrexham A.F.C. on Kop

Article posted by Coliseum, August 8^th, 2022

Image: AFL Architects (LinkedIn)

The National League team Wrexham A.F.C. (UK) can confirm it has submitted the planning application for the ‘Kop’.

‘Wrexham AFC’ stated that July 28^th saw the completion of the pre-application consultation, with 708 responses from members of the public, in addition to those from the statuary consultees. The club is comfortable that the consultation was undertaken thoroughly and in accordance with the Planning (Wales) Act 2015. The full public scrutiny informed the formal submission to the Wrexham County Borough Council.

The Wrexham Association Football Club is a Welsh professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales (UK). The team competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system.

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The 10,771-capacity Racecourse Ground is a football stadium in Wrexham, Wales, UK. It is the home of Wrexham A.F.C. It is the world’s oldest international football stadium that still hosts international matches, having hosted Wales’ first home international match in 1877 and has hosted more Wales international matches than any other ground.

The new Kop stand is set to include a hospitality lounge, office and retail space for the club, along with facilities for the Wrexham A.F.C. Community Trust to enhance their work further.

Of the 708 responses, 691 (98 percent) were generally supportive with less than one percent not in support. A small number shared their views/comments without expressing their position on the plans.

The submission would see the capacity of the Racecourse Ground increased by 5,500, with an exhibition space to support the wider ambition of the Gateway Project, along with other facilities for the club. Bringing the Kop back into use will see the Racecourse Ground return to be a four-sided stadium, removing the most significant obstacle to hosting international football fixtures in the future.

While there was overwhelming support, some raised matchday parking and the impact this has on residents as an issue. Notwithstanding that the club is satisfied that the Match Day Access Strategy that supports the planning application is robust, the club have committed to create a ‘Matchday Forum’ with local councilors and representative groups to establish what improvements can be made, irrespective of the planning proposals.

‘Wrexham AFC’ further stated that consultation will continue throughout the period of consideration by the Wrexham Council and the club will be launching several initiatives to formally support the application.

No date has been confirmed for when the application will be determined.

Earlier in June this year, Wrexham A.F.C. was granted permission by the Wrexham Council to demolish its iconic Kop stand and clear the site.

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