Wrexham County Borough Council, Solutia UK and the Canal and River Trust in Wales have published a masterplan for the Trevor Basin and surrounding area, which forms part of the World Heritage Site at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
The sets out a vision for the area which aims to protect the heritage on site, enhance the visitor attraction and brings economic and social benefits to the region.
It includes a new visitor hub welcoming people to the site, improvements and expansion of car parking and commercial ventures such as a tree top walk, camping and glamping.
Subject to funding and commercial interest, the plan could be delivered in stages over short, medium and longer term.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at Trevor Basin is a historically significant site that attracts over 300,000 visitors per year to the local area.
The organisations involved says it its current amenity offer is limited and consequently the site does not deliver to its full potential in terms of encouraging longer dwell times and leveraging visitor expenditure to the wider area.
The next stage will see the partners engage with Welsh and English governments to help deliver the funding required to bring forward the proposals.
Ian Bancroft, Chair of the World Heritage Site Board and Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economy, have said “It will be hugely important to the future management of the World Heritage Site and catalyst for transformation by creating a world class destination, in keeping with its status, to deliver a positive social and economic impact both locally and within the north Wales region.”
Solutia UK, the owners of the site which housed the former factory and makes up a significant part of the masterplan area, said: “We were very happy to work with Wrexham Council and the Canal and Rivers Trust in the development of the masterplan.
"The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a stunning piece of industrial architecture and this masterplan includes some exciting developments around it and in the surrounding communities."
The masterplan has been developed over the past three years with Arcadis Consultancy and Stantec and has involved engagement with local residents, businesses and environment and community groups.
It is said to have the potential to generate approximately £75.7m (present value) of additional benefits for the Welsh economy over the next 30 years and generate £24.6 million in social value impacts from recreational users.
It has the potential to significantly improve the quality and variety of the site’s visitor offer driving new visitors spend, creating jobs close to an area of high deprivation and helping to put Wrexham’s tourism sector onto a more even footing with other areas of North Wales.
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