Worcester Warriors owner submits ambitious plans to transform Sixways
The owner of former Premiership Rugby club Worcester Warriors has submitted screening plans to transform Sixways to create “a destination venue for sport, entertainment, health and wellbeing”.
Junction 6, led by Warriors and Wasps owner Chris Holland, is seeking approval to demolish the North and West stands to redevelop the existing stadium to a capacity of 12,500. New medical and sports facilities form part of the proposals, as well as parking for 1,139 cars.
Plans lodged with Wychavon District Council also include a 120-bed hotel, a sports pitch, a driving range, a retail unit and a solar farm, which can produce up to 20 MW per annum.
Documents say the goal of the development is, “to restore elite rugby to Worcester Warriors whilst creating a destination venue for sport, entertainment health and wellbeing” as the current Sixways site is “falling way short of its potential as a community”.
It estimates that construction would be concluded within two to five years.
Wasps and Worcester were placed into administration two years ago after being pursued for unpaid tax by HM Revenue and Customs, resulting in their removal from the Gallagher Premiership.
Warriors was acquired by a consortium named Atlas Worcester Warriors at the beginning of 2023, which failed to pay its deferred consideration of the club.
The consortium was funded by Loxwood Holdings alongside Total Compliance Solutions (TCS), an American-based medical company, Altas Sportstech, former player James Sandford and Warriors’ former CEO Jim O’Toole.
In May 2023, Loxwood Holdings led by Holland stepped in to financially assist Atlas in completing its purchase of the former Worcester Warriors Rugby club from its administrators.
This financial assistance was intended to be a short-term position to help support the eventual recovery of Worcester Warriors and to allow Wasps a short-term option to play at Sixways Stadium in Worcester.
Atlas was unable to meet the ongoing financial obligations and operating costs of Sixways and therefore appointed administrators from Quantuma.
