Skip to content

Wrexham to get half of £10m Welsh government regeneration funding pot

Anna LewisBBC Wales
News imageWrexham council The artist's impression shows a street with rows of coloured umbrellas suspended in the air. There is a colourful mural with the word Wrecsam in big letters on the right-hand side, sitting on a flower bed full of plants. Trees line the street, with shops and al fresco dining on the left-hand side. Wrexham council
An artist's impression of upper Chester Street, which is set to be regenerated

Wrexham will receive £5m funding from the Welsh government, as part of a £10m package announced for regeneration projects across Wales.

A total of £5m will also support projects in Brynmawr, Neath, Monmouth, Bala and Newport as well as a wider grant programme in south-west Wales.

The money in Wrexham would be used to create a cultural quarter in the city and transform the area around Henblas Street, the former Hippodrome site and Chester Street with new paving, street furniture, trees and green spaces.

Council leader Mark Pritchard said the plans would be "another piece in the jigsaw" for Wrexham to "realise its true potential as a modern, confident city".

The funding has been announced as part of the Welsh government's Transforming Towns programme, which aims to redevelop and improve town centres or their nearby areas.

In Wrexham, the former Hippodrome site would feature tiered seating, landscaping, a large outdoor screen and water features.

The site has been linked with Wrexham AFC's Hollywood owners since 2023, after Rob Mac announced proposals for the Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park - as a 47th birthday gift to his fellow co-owner.

It was hoped the projects would help forge "a stronger identity for Wrexham as a place with traditional Victorian markets, heritage, arts and culture", the council said. It was hoped work would begin before the end of the year.

News imageWrexham council An artist's impression of the former Hippodrome site. The open space has a fountain in the middle, with children playing in the streams of water. On the right is a huge screen showing the football. There is grass and flowerbeds on the left-hand side, with an awning in the background. Wrexham council
The potential future of the former Hippodrome cinema site, which closed in the 1990s before the building burned down in 2008

As part of the wider announcement for Wales, £250,000 would go towards supporting a major regeneration of Rodney Parade in Newport, while £850,000 will go towards helping extend the Bala Lake Railway Trust's railway line.

Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire councils will also receive £2m funding to support the ongoing South West Wales Placemaking Grant, which aims to regenerate town centres, business premises and create jobs.

Sian Gwenllian, Welsh government cabinet minister for local government, housing and planning, said: "This £10m will help build on the fantastic work we're already seeing happening in places like Wrexham, supporting local businesses, boosting footfall and creating spaces that communities can be proud of.

"It also reflects the priorities set out by our Town Centre Taskforce, which is helping to ensure that regeneration is driven by what communities actually need."

Nigel Williams, Wrexham council lead member for economy, business and tourism, said the funding was "an absolute game-changer and marks the start of the next exciting chapter for Wrexham".

"Henblas Street and Chester Street will feel modern and attractive, and the former Hippodrome site will be a fantastic asset - perfect for families and community activities," he said.

More top stories