Building Design Partnership - Leisure Development - Aintree Racecourse

Date: 11 May 2004

Aintree Racecourse announced today, plans for a £34million redesign and redevelopment of the racecourse site over the next 3 years. A planning application for the development was submitted on Wednesday 5th May to Sefton Council. Plans are for the construction work to commence immediately following the 2005 Grand National and completed in time for the 2007 Grand National meeting.

The project, designed by Building Design Partnership, will see a radical redesign of the racecourse facilities. The plans incorporate three main projects:

1. The building of a new grandstand facility.

2. The re-location of the Parade Ring, Winner's and Unsaddling Enclosures plus construction of a new Weighing Room and Stable complex.

3. The building of a new permanent Aintree Pavilion.
Funding of the redevelopment will be from Aintree's own resources, The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and other European and regional funding.

1. New Grandstands

Two new grandstands, built adjacent to the Queen Mother Stand, will be constructed in the form of identical facilities linked by a central walkway and two-tiered bar areas. Each grandstand will provide four tiers of premium viewing facilities. Terracing for 1,400 will be provided at ground level in each grandstand, as well as full bar, catering and betting facilities and a medical room. On level 1 there will be a restaurant for 640 diners, overlooking the racecourse. Seating will be provided for 790 at levels 2 and 4, plus 32 disabled spaces and room for 32 disabled helpers. A further hospitality suite for 360 diners will be provided on level 3. Six private suites overlooking the racecourse will be housed on level 5.

In total, this development of two new grandstands will accommodate additional viewing for 2,800 racegoers on steppings at the ground level, seating for an additional 1,580 plus 32 disabled spaces and helpers and permanent corporate hospitality facilities for 2,288.

2. The re-location of the Parade Ring, Winner's and Unsaddling Enclosures plus construction of a new Weighing Room and Stables

The second and most radical proposed change to the racecourse site will be the re-location of the Parade Ring, Winner's and Unsaddling Enclosures, as well as the construction of a new Weighing Room and Stable complex. This project will also incorporate the building of a Pre-parade Ring, accessible to the general public. The Parade Ring, with an enlarged horse walk will ensure that all 40 horses for the Grand National can be safely managed. This new facility will also allow for elevated viewing for up to 4,000 spectators. A new Winner's Enclosure will be sited within the Parade Ring complex, providing greater capacity for viewing to racegoers.

The proposed glass fronted Weighing Room, which will be sited at the south end of the Parade Ring, will give vastly improved facilities for jockeys riding at Aintree. Within the changing area, there will be space for up to 80 male jockeys and within in a separate room, space for 10 female jockeys. An added benefit to the race-going public will be the visibility of the weighing scales within the new complex. A fully integrated Media Centre, capable of hosting up to 150 members of the press will also be located below the Weighing Room. Further investment in equine facilities will include the building of a new Stable block, which will incorporate at state of the art veterinary treatment facility and a modern dope testing unit. In addition, a new Pre-parade Ring will be constructed with 26 new saddling boxes built around the outside.

The existing Weighing Room area will remain but will be transformed into a historic raceday facility, available to the public at all race meetings. A relocated and improved entrance to the racecourse will be created through Grand National Avenue, providing panoramic views of all of the grandstand areas and the new Parade Ring. The existing Parade Ring will become an entrance garden, available to all racegoers and will incorporate the existing statues of Red Rum and Sir Peter O'Sullevan CBE.

3. The building of a new permanent Aintree Pavilion
A new Aintree Pavilion will replicate the existing temporary structure in terms of capacity and facilities for Tattersalls customers. The structure will include full public bar, catering and betting facilities and will cater for up to 10,000 racegoers.

Timescale
The redevelopment will occur in two separate phases, either side of the 2006 Grand National meeting. The first phase will complete the Weighing Room, Parade Ring, Stables, Pre-parade Ring, Media Centre and Aintree Pavilion and the second phase will be the construction of the new grandstands.

All ground works will commence immediately following the 2005 Grand National and will include the foundations for the two grandstands. At this stage, the construction of the new Weighing Room and Media Centre will take place and will aim to be completed before the 2006 Grand National. It is also intended that piling for the grandstands would also be completed at this stage and the area re-tarmaced over, to allow for the current temporary facilities to be built on this area for Grand National meeting in 2006. Following the 2006 Grand National, the construction of the grandstands will commence in time for racing at the 2007 Grand National meeting.

Commenting at today's announcement, Charles Barnett, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse said, "We have spent a great deal of time and effort evaluating how the racecourse facilities are used and have been working closely with BDP to enable us to redevelop the site, ensuring that we can deliver a truly world class experience for visitors to Aintree.

"At Aintree, one of our key priorities is equine welfare of the horse. The changes that are being made in terms of stabling and veterinary facilities will ensure that we are continuing to provide the best facilities available.

"We believe that the proposals that have been submitted will provide some of the best facilities for a racecourse in the world. It will also encompass the fantastic opportunities that lie ahead for the North West region and, in particular for Liverpool in 2008 with its title of European Capital of Culture. However, we need to ensure that the heritage and tradition of the Grand National is not forgotten in our plans for the future."

BDP Project Architect Richard Elsdon said of scheme "Our design provides racegoers with state of the art facilities which will enhance the strong traditions of this famous racecourse and provide a world class setting for a world class event".

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