Planning application submitted to demolish Wrexham AFC Kop stand

With the club's popularity increasing of late, it has announced plans to build a new large stand to replace the Kop.

Improving the historic stadium's facilities were a key part of Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds' mission statement when they completed their high profile takeover of the club last year.

Read more: 'Incredible' Wrexham AFC fans donate towards fund to get Grimsby supporters to play-off final

The planning application submitted to Wrexham Council has not been made public yet.

But, the ambition for the Kop is to build a new large 5,500 seater stand along with enhancing the stadium to enable it to attract top level competitive international standard sport.

A petition is currently underway campaigning for Wales matches to return to the Racecourse in the near future also.

Back in 2020, land to the rear of the Kop had been acquired by Welsh Government, and last year they announced a £25m funding package for the eastern part of the project.

PIC: Big plans are in place at the Racecourse ground in Wrexham.

A statement from Wrexham AFC on the plans read: "The club is pleased to announce that a planning application has been submitted to Wrexham County Borough Council to demolish the Kop and clear the site.

"This application is the first of three that will be made in respect of the Kop development in June, and needed to be made before the full application, so as to ensure that the timeline for the desired completion of the stand for the start of the 2024/25 season remains achievable.

"A decision on this application is expected in early July.

"There is no agreed commencement date for work on site as yet. The initial work will include the stripping out of essential services before the 2022/23 season starts, so the demolition can occur without negatively impacting on the club’s ability to stage matches at the Racecourse Ground."