Plans for a major commercial development at Wrexham General train station have been revealed. The ambitious plans could include the relocation of Wrexham Lager to support its growth plans
The proposals form part of the Wrexham Gateway scheme. One element of the Gateway project, along the Mold Road corridor, was unveiled in February and involves a new Kop Stand at Wrexham AFC's Stok Racecourse Stadium along with a potential four-star hotel.
Now the second element has been revealed, showing plans for a "major mixed use regeneration scheme" in the area surrounding Wrexham General Railway Station. Its backed want this to include a signature office building to mark a scheme that will be "one of the more transformative periods for Wrexham since the Industrial era".
The site's large office building will take cues from Wrexham's 'rich historic context', notable the Pontcysyllte aqueduct.
Within this complex will be a new public plaza and "pocket park" next to the station. Potentially there could also be a new brewery at the former Jewsons building. Wrexham Lager, now co-owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, is also investigating the possibility of restoring and converting the nearby Cambrian Sheds into a tap room, restaurant, shop and visitor centre.
Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council, said: "Wrexham's profile is growing and the city is attracting millions of pounds worth of investment. This exciting scheme will help us go from strength to strength – creating more joined-up travel options and helping to attract even more commercial investment."
Transport for Wales (TfW) is aiming to create a "transport hub" at the train station making it easier for people to use the bus, walk, wheel or cycle to the station. It will also allow visitors to Wrexham who arrive by train to travel to their final destination.
Road improvements are also planned for the site along with infrastructure upgrades to handle a forecasted rise in rail users. In general, the aim is to "provide an attractive welcome to the City of Wrexham".
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Deputy council leader, Cllr David A Bithell, who is also responsible for strategic transport, said: "It's important that we continue to modernise and improve transport infrastructure in Wrexham. We want people to be able to easily interact with different types of transport, but we need to get this right, so it's important that people share their views with the partnership."
The scheme is being delivered by the Wrexham Gateway Partnership, which includes Wrexham Council, Transport for Wales (TfW), Wrexham University and the Welsh Government. A public consultation has been launched and this will run until May 12.
Due to the scale of the Wrexham Gateway Project and the investment required, the scheme has been divided into an east and west zone. Proposals for the west zone include a new Kop Stand at the Stok Racecourse and planning consent for this was recently secured, with development due to commence in summer 2025.
The east zone focuses on Wrexham train station and Wrexham Council aims to submit an outline planning application. It shared advanced plans for the scheme in the hope of getting public feedback that may influence the proposed development. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, said: "The redevelopment plan for the area around Wrexham General Station provides an exciting opportunity to enhance Wrexham's reputation as a leading visitor destination, attracting more people to the city, whilst providing better access to rail and road public transport links."
A survey is available online here. Paper feedback forms can also be picked up from Wrexham General Station ticket office and Wrexham Library. There will be two drop-in events for the public. These are on:
Lee Robinson, executive director for regional transport and integration at TfW, said: "We welcome the opportunity to significantly improve links between rail and bus and for better routes for walking, wheeling and cycling in Wrexham, as well as enhancing the overall customer experience at the station. Wrexham General is a vital part of the travel network in Wrexham, so it's important that we get things right and feedback from the community will be essential."