PM Johnson says “Wrexham has every chance of success” on Levelling Up ‘Gateway project’ bid

The Prime Minister has said he would “do what I can” when asked about Wrexham’s second go at UK Government ‘Levelling Up’ funding.

The Gateway project is intended to see the regeneration of the Mold Road corridor “creating better connected bus and rail transport, a route into the town centre that gives a great first impression to visitors and an improved events football ground and regional and national venue at the Racecourse stadium”.

The ‘Gateway’ site has been split roughly into two sections, the eastern section which will see an integrated transport hub as part of an improved Wrexham General station with possible redevelopment of the builders merchants yard and potentially the sorting office site to include 150 apartments and retail space.

The western side of the railway sees one of the most substantial projects being the redevelopment of the long derelict Kop stand at the Racecourse and surrounding land, alongside or incorporating an exhibition facility and a four-star standard hotel.

The ambition for the Kop is to build a new large stand along with enhancing the stadium to enable it to attract top level competitive international standard sport, with UEFA requirements seen as a benchmark to that aim. With a FAW commitment to bring the full spectrum of international football to the Racecourse ‘on a regular basis’ – if the stadium is up to it. (As we have previously reported, could this be Wales v Scotland?)

Wrexham’s bid for the first go at “Levelling Up” cash was rejected by the UK Government, with a second version of the bid lodged. With the tight timeframes involved Wrexham Council have allocated £2.5m from Welsh Government funding to get the project underway, in a move they hope helps prove its deliverability.

Previously Wrexham Council Chief Executive Ian Bancroft explained, “If you are successful in the first round, you had a longer period to spend. So if you’re successful in the second round you have a shorter window. So our concern is that if we don’t start works in advance of the actual success of any bid, we may not be able to complete them.

“So that’s the importance of starting delivery on the western side of the gateway in advance of knowing the outcome of the bid, because otherwise there’s a danger we won’t be able to complete what we bid for. Deliverability will increase the chances of success of the scheme.”

With positive noises around the second Levelling Up bid the topic got a mentioned at yesterdays  Questions to the Prime Minister.

Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton asked PM Johnson, “Mr Speaker, if you live in north Wales and want to watch international sport, you will have to travel four hours to Cardiff or Swansea.

“The Wrexham Racecourse, with its historic Kop stand, is home to Wembley-bound Wrexham football club. It is the oldest international stadium in the world, and forms part of our levelling-up fund bid.

“Does the Prime Minister agree that round 2 of the levelling-up fund offers an excellent opportunity to level up access to sport?”

The Prime Minister did not give a definitive answer, but gave a positive sounding reply: “There could be no better campaigner for Wrexham and for the interests of Wrexham sport.

“I will do what I can, but my hon. Friend will know that £121 million from the first round of the levelling-up fund was awarded to Wales, and I am sure that Wrexham has every chance of success in the future.”

Top image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor