£100m masterplan to reshape Chester Racecourse revealed

Plans for a £100m redevelopment of Chester Racecourse – the oldest facility of its kind in England – have been unveiled.

Chester Race Company have launched a masterplan which includes a new grandstand, 1,000-seat conference venue and car park built, alongside an extension to an existing hotel on the site.

A public exhibition of the plans has taken place this week ahead of the submission of planning applications to Cheshire West and Chester Council in April.

A planning application for the demolition of the Watergate Inn submitted in January has now been approved and works have begun.

The blue print includes the reinstatement of Watergate Square, one of original Roman entrances through Chester’s city walls.

The pub will be replaced with a new public entrance to the County enclosure. All works will be completed in advance of the first meeting of Chester’s 2018 season on Wednesday, May 9.

The company’s chief executive Richard Thomas said: “Our ‘Masterplan 2018’ represents a substantial commitment to the development of the Chester Racecourse site and we can apportion many additional benefits from this planned investment to the city of Chester and our local community.

“We have received positive feedback and support from our shareholders and the council and now invite members of the public to play an integral part in this project through this consultation.”