Wrexham stand plans ready for submission



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Wrexham to submit updated design on new stand Image: Populous

EFL League One club Wrexham AFC will submit revised designs for a new 5,500-capacity Kop Stand to Wrexham County Borough Council at the beginning of February.

Wrexham AFC said this progress follows the issuing of a new brief and subsequent appointment of Populous as its Architect to create a masterplan to future-proof the stadium.

This review is now suitably advanced to allow the progression to the next stage of the ambitious plans for the development of the STōK Cae Ras.

Wrexham Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales (UK). Formed in 1864, it is the oldest club in Wales and the third-oldest professional association football team in the world. They compete in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system.

The 12,600-capacity Racecourse Ground, known for sponsorship reasons as the STōK Cae Ras (or STōK Racecourse), 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 still in continuous use, having hosted Wales’ first ever international home game against Scotland on March 5, 1877. The stadium’s history can be traced back much further, however – with horse racing recorded at the Racecourse possibly even 400 years ago.

The club said the objective remains for the Kop Stand to be completed in time for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final tournament that is being hosted in Wales in the summer of 2026.

The new Kop Stand, together with other works being planned at the STōK Cae Ras, will make the Stadium fully compliant with UEFA Category 4 Stadium standards, allowing it to serve as a venue for other international events.

In the period since their appointment, Populous have spent time in the city of Wrexham and surrounding local community, gaining valuable first-hand insights from Wrexham fans and local residents into the importance of the Club and what a new Kop Stand design should feature.

This has been considered in terms of iconography, building materials, and look and feel even down to the ‘materiality’ – the choice and use of building materials – to truly reflect the character and history of the city, the surrounding area and, most importantly, its people.

Wrexham AFC CEO, Michael Williamson, said: “The submission of the revised designs for the new Kop Stand is a major milestone for this hugely important project and an intense period of activity will follow in the coming months to complete the new Stand for summer 2026.

“Whilst the revised design utilises the original footprint and volume of the earlier approved design, we have strived over these past few months with our partners and design team to masterplan the STōK Cae Ras with the Kop Stand as the first phase.

“We want to create a stadium which is authentic, organic and in keeping with Wrexham. The design will therefore emphasise materials that reflect the strong heritage and character of Wrexham.

“By incorporating authentic materials, that are locally sourced wherever possible, we will create a sense of place that resonates with the city’s history and identity, ensuring the building is rooted in its environment, both visually and culturally.”

The interviews carried out by Populous have been translated into an exterior design that the Club believes will strike a chord with both the fans and local community.

It is steeped in the fabric and history of the local area while bringing an updated, dynamic, fresh look to the STōK Cae Ras.

When finished it will deliver a great space with modern facilities for fans to enjoy the matchday experience and for the local community to use on non-matchdays.

Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous, said: “We are privileged to be working on the design of the new Kop Stand at the STōK Cae Ras. Our aim is to create a design that is unique to Wrexham, amplifying the atmosphere created by the club’s passionate fans and making them proud to call it home. We envisage a stand that will be a monument for the club and the city, representing the tradition and community that lie at its heart.”

The new Kop Stand will hopefully act as the catalyst for the wider plans to develop the area as part of the Wrexham Gateway project together with Wrexham County Borough Council, the Welsh Government, Wrexham University, Transport for Wales and the FA of Wales.

Wrexham AFC have assembled a design team of global external consultants and contractors to work with Populous (Architects), including Gardiner & Theobald (Project Management and Cost Management), Savills (Planning Consultants) and Buro Happold (Engineers).

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