Wrexham Council still considering long term strategy for multi-use area at former Hippodrome

Work to transform the site of a former cinema into a multi-use area remains ongoing almost 18 months after Wrexham Council secured ownership.

The Hippodrome, on Henblas Street, had been boarded up for over a decade after the building was burnt down in a mystery fire in 2008.

Over the years there had been hopes that the land could be redeveloped into housing or commercial space in a bid to regenerate the area.

After more than a decade of an eyesore in the city centre, in January 2022 Wrexham Council announced that it had secured ownership of the land, promising “to make sure that the spot is put to best use” by providing a wider benefit to the city centre.

Speaking at the time Leader of Wrexham Council, Mark Pritchard said: “Having taken ownership of this site, we are now in control of its future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We aim to make sure that the spot is put to best use, and benefits town centre trade. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is the first of many purchases within the town where we will be looking at acquiring redundant properties that have been sitting empty for too long. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m really pleased with the purchase of this plot of land, although it had taken longer than we would have liked.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The site played a key role in Wrexham’s ‘City of Culture 2025’ bid, with the site transformed into a play area to showcase to the judges.

However 18 months later the land remains closed off to the public, with Wrexham Council confirming that it is only opened “for events of when requested by community organisations.”

Most recently the former Hippodrome space was used by Xplore! as part of its Science Festival.

In June 2022 we asked Wrexham Council about its longer term plans for the site. 12 months on and with the area remaining closed off to the public outside of events, we posed a similar question to the local authority.

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “We are looking at a strategy going forward to develop this into a multi-use area but at this stage it is opened when requested.”

Previously there have been calls for the space to be permanently opened up and turned into a “pocket park” for members of the community.

Last year a petition for a new theatre on the site also gained traction.