Work underway on multi-million pound racecourse redevelopment

Architecture, design and masterplanning practice, FWP, has been recruited to the team tasked with delivering a £5m redevelopment plan at York Racecourse.

The firm is providing its project management, cost consultancy and principal design expertise to the project, which 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 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 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 deliver a £10m revamp of part of the racecourse.

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

Kate Shuttleworth, partner at FWP, said: “We’re pleased 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.”