WALES has been awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the UK Government’s landmark Levelling Up Fund - but Wrexham and its Gateway Project won't see a penny of it.

The UK Government said the investment will benefit people across Wales by "spreading opportunity and breathing new life into historically overlooked areas". 

A total of 11 projects in Wales have been allocated more than £208 million from round two of the Levelling Up Fund. The UK Government said projects will "create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally". 

However, the Wrexham Gateway project is not among the 11 projects receiving the funding.

In the first phase of the Levelling Up funding announced last year, Wrexham County Borough received £13.3 million to improve the area around the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

Wrexham Council bid for funding from the latest Levelling Up Fund for the Wrexham Gateway project - but was unsuccessful for the second time. 

The scheme would signal a complete regeneration of the area surrounding the Racecourse Ground and Wrexham General train station. The project is split between east and west. 

The east side of the scheme has already received £25 million worth of Welsh Government funding. It will see major redevelopment of the site around the Wrexham General station, including commercial development and upgrades to the civic and amenity spaces.

The Leader:

Wrexham Council hoped to secure Levelling Up funding for the western side which is the Kop stand football ground redevelopment. That includes groundworks for a hotel, potential conference facilities and also car parking. 

News of the unsuccessful bid for funding comes as a blow for hopes of restoring Wales international matches to the Racecourse. 

When asked whether spending public money on improving the club's ground was appropriate, Wrexham Council's chief executive, Ian Bancroft, said: “It has always been really clear that there are two elements to the investment into the western side.

“One is in terms of the ground and the football club and that’s why the football club are a funding partner.

“The second is bringing that ground up to international standard as the oldest international football ground in the world and as an events stadium for North Wales. It's those elements that we want to invest in in terms of public funding.”

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Wrexham's Conservative Party MP, Sarah Atherton, said: "Wrexham Council submitted two bids for the Levelling Up Fund. The first, £13.3 million for the Trevor Basin, Llangollen and Corwen Bid and the second for the Wrexham Gateway Bid. Given that Wrexham Council chose to submit two bids, it is not unreasonable that only one was successful.

"It is important to note that in the past few years, with the help of the UK Government, Wrexham has been awarded Platinum City status, was runner-up in the 2025 City of Culture and has been awarded £22.4 million from the Shared Prosperity Fund.

"Of course, whilst it is disappointing that the Wrexham Gateway bid hasn’t been successful this time, I will continue to work with Wrexham Council, Glyndwr University, and Wrexham AFC to prepare for resubmission in Round three. In the meantime, we will work together to promote and raise Wrexham.’

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North Wales Senedd Member, Ken Skates, has previously called on the UK Government to "make good" on its promise to deliver on Gateway Project funding for the Racecourse ground.

The list of projects to receive Levelling Up Funding is as follows: 

  • £50 million for Crossrail Cardiff. This will help deliver a new line between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Central Station, improving travel for thousands of people who travel daily between the stations. 
  • A safe and direct cycle route will be created between Llandudno Junction and Betws y Coed via the Conwy Valley with an £18.6 million grant. The scheme will also include measures to mitigate against flooding. 
  • £17.8 million will restore the historic estate in the Vale of Neath and build new walkways and cycle paths. 
  • There is £17 million for building new walkways and cycle paths to bring people closer together in Holyhead and enable visitors and local people to explore the stunning sites of St Cybi’s Church and the Roman Fort. 
  • £18 million to transform the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, one of the most recognisable buildings in South Wales, which has deteriorated after years of piecemeal refurbishments.
  • In Blaenau Gwent, a new engineering campus for 600 young people will be built using £9 million funding. It will offer the next generation of engineers an extensive programme of apprenticeships and industry placements in the area. 
  • £20 million will restore and regenerate three industry heritage sites in the Lower Swansea Valley. This includes the Morfa Copperworks and will create new shops, restaurants and market places, and a major upgrade to Swansea Museum. 
  • The £7.6 million Pontypool Cultural Hub project in Torfaen will transform derelict buildings into a thriving cultural centre with a new restaurant to boost the night-time economy. 
  • Building a state of the art leisure centre in Caerphilly with £20 million, including a new gym and swimming pool. 
  • In Gwynedd, £18.8 million will upgrade walking and cycling routes for the National Slate Museum and the Neuadd Ogwen arts centre. 
  •  Denbighshire will receive £11 million to restore the historic monuments in Ruthin, including St Peter’s Church and the town square. 

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere. 

“That’s why we are backing a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in Wales. By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.” 

The Government has confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.