£5m racecourse revamp gets past first post

Plans for the £5m re-development of the city’s Knavesmire course were unveiled at the end of last year in scheme which is aimed at ensuring the biggest names in racing continue to be attracted to York.

A planning application setting out details of the initial stages of the overhaul following the first major review of facilities for a century will be considered by councillors next week.

The application has already secured the backing of York Council’s planning officers, who have recommended the first phase of the re-development at the northern end of the racecourse should be approved.

The racecourse’s head of marketing, James Brennan, said: “This scheme will help us to develop the racecourse into the 21st century to meet the needs of the visitors, trainers, jockeys and the horses themselves.

“It will ensure the course remains a viable and vibrant element of the city’s economy and social life, and that we can continue to attract the biggest names in racing to York.”

The re-development is the latest landmark in York’s long racing heritage which stretches back almost 300 years when the first events were staged on Knavesmire in 1731, although there were no permanent structures then. The grandstand which was built by John Carr in 1756 and still remains at the course was seen as a pioneering piece of architecture to accommodate race-goers.

The planning application to be considered by the council’s west and city centre planning committee on Thursday next week outlines proposals to extend the racecourse’s site.

New saddling boxes, a pre-parade ring and weighing room building would be created while the Moët Pavilion would be replaced with a new building, which would include a roof terrace and bar looking towards the Parade Ring. There are plans to move the existing northern perimeter wall to create the new equine area.

The racecourse and the neighbouring former Terrys factory site were both designated as a conservation area in 1975, but the council’s development management officer Fiona Mackay has claimed the proposed re-development would be “sympathetic in scale, form, design and materials”.

A second phase of the re-development is being finalised, and Mr Brennan confirmed another application is expected to be submitted over the summer. The next stage would include developing a new weigh-in building and champagne pavilion and replacing multiple canopies outside the Grade II* listed John Carr grandstand with a more aesthetically-pleasing single cover.

While Knavesmire is owned by the council, the racecourse leases land on which the track and buildings are situated. Talks have been held to extend the leased area to provide an extra third of an acre to carry out the improvements.

The decision to draw up the plans for the re-development was borne out of last year’s Ebor meeting which saw Frankel, dubbed the greatest racehorse ever, maintain his unbeaten record in his 14th and final race. Mr Brennan acknowledged there is a need to develop the course to ensure it continues to attract world-class racing talent. But he stressed the re-development is aimed at improving the experiences of visitors rather than extending capacity.

The racecourse has become an integral facet in York’s tourism sector, and research published in 2008 revealed the venue generated £44m in 2007 and supported 1,350 full-time jobs.

Previous major improvements have included the £10m development of the Knavesmire stand and £20m transformation of the Ebor stand.