New Kop’s capacity will be limited due to phosphates issue

The new Kop stand at the Racecourse looks set for a limited capacity as the phosphates issues rumble on.

As we speculated prior to the planning meeting (Kop redevelopment set for approval but could phosphates restrict non-matchday use of new stand?) the well documented phosphates issue has impacted the development of a new stand, however unlike other plans in the area it has not derailed it.

Phosphates are naturally occurring minerals which can enter rivers via land management practices, sewerage and foul water, causing significant ecological damage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Evidence published by NRW shows phosphorus breaches are widespread within Welsh Special Areas of Conservations, including the River Dee, where target levels have not been met. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both Wrexham and Flintshire Council have experienced delays in having their local development plans approved because of the tough new rules. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has introduced phosphate control regulations to protect watercourses in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) across the country. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government said phosphate pollution poses a “serious risk” to health and must be addressed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On the night of the planning meeting we were the only media in the gallery to report on the committee giving the development the green light – with the phosphates issue left outstanding on the evening, and it agreed that the redevelopment proceed with a delegated “satisfactory resolution of the outstanding matters referred to the in the report in consultation with Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales”.

As we reported, the basic argument was the existing Kop could have been theoretically be refurbished without planning permission being required – and therefore have 5,000-odd people using it on match days, without having to change the existing arrangements on phosphates.​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Today the club have given more clarity on how that is progressing with a statement confirming the early speculation, that a restriction will be in place:

“The planning committee at Wrexham County Borough Council approved the Club’s proposal to redevelop the Kop on November 7, 2022.

The formal permission was received on January 12, 2023, following the successful resolution of the delegated matters and agreement over the conditions.

The planning permission that is now on the public record, includes a condition to the effect that the 5,500-capacity Kop can only be used by 4,900 spectators until such time as the phosphates impact can be accurately quantified and an appropriate mitigation identified.

Accepting this condition now, allows the Kop works to progress and remain on schedule to be completed prior to the commencement of the 2024/25 season.

The Club’s advisors now have 12 months to secure the removal of this condition and there are no significant concerns around achieving this.”