FWP appointed to £5m racecourse redevelopment project

FWP has been appointed to the team tasked with delivering a £5m redevelopment plan at York Racecourse.

It is providing its project management, cost consultancy and principal design expertise to the project that will transform the Southern End of the historic racecourse, one of the sport’s most famous venues.

With the principal contractor, Lindum, moving onto site just 48 hours after the season ended, work is now underway.

The redevelopment will see the section of the course south of the Knavesmire Stand upgraded. Two new lawns under a high canopy will also be created and the 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand will be improved.

A single-storey extension behind the Bustardthorpe Stand is being replaced with a new building, upgrading the area’s toilets and refurbishing the entrance.

The aim of the redevelopment is to offer a better experience to racegoers. It is the latest in a series of improvement projects at York, aimed at securing its position as one of the leading horseracing venues in the world.

It is expected that this latest work will be completed by summer 2024, the height of the flat racing season.

FWP’s relationship with York stretches back to 2015 when its team helped to deliver a £10m revamp of part of the historic racecourse.

Preston headquartered FWP provided technical and quantity surveying support for the revamp of the Northern End of the racecourse, which included a new first floor restaurant with stunning views over the parade ring and track as well as a new weighing room.

Kate Shuttleworth, partner at FWP, said: “We’re delighted to be once again playing our part in the development of York Racecourse with this latest transformational plan that will deliver a host of improvements for racegoers.

“The York Race Committee has a clear vision to ensure it remains one of the world’s best racecourses and it has an impressive track record of investing in the facilities, race programme and visitor experience.

“Sustainability is a key focus of the project and we’re incorporating features like solar panels, rainwater harvesting and green roofs into the developments.”

Leading architecture, design and masterplanning practice FWP, which also has offices in Manchester and London, has gained a nationally acknowledged expertise in the racecourse sector - cost and project managing developments at a host of venues including Haydock, Doncaster, Aintree Chester, Southwell and Lingfield, as well as York.