The WrexFactor: Community Ideas to Help Shape the Future of Wrexham

In October 2024, a diverse group of local people, organisations and partners came together at the STōK Cae Ras Racecourse for a unique community engagement event, The WrexFactor.

The event brought together 128 participants from 63 organisations, representing community groups, businesses, social enterprises, public bodies, education and the football club, all united by a shared ambition: to explore bold ideas that could help shape the future of Wrexham city centre.

Over two workshop sessions, participants were invited to tackle a simple but powerful

question:

“What are the ‘hero projects and ideas’ that could transform our city centre?”

A Collaborative Approach to Ideas

Facilitated by Start Something Good and Cwmpas, the WrexFactor event used a structured workshop approach designed to unlock creativity and collaboration.

Participants worked in teams to explore:

• Wrexham’s strengths and assets

• The challenges currently facing the city centre

• Opportunities for the future

• Practical steps that could turn ideas into reality

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By the end of the sessions, teams had developed 16 initial project ideas, each presented as a short “pitch” to a panel made up of young people, community leaders and local

entrepreneurs.

These ideas were not intended to be finished projects. Instead, they represent early

concepts and community thinking about how Wrexham could continue to evolve.

Three Key Themes for Wrexham’s Future

Across the pitches, three broad themes emerged which reflect many of the opportunities and ambitions people see for Wrexham:

Building on Wrexham’s identity

Ideas focused on celebrating what makes Wrexham distinctive, including proposals for a

stronger city brand, festival culture, and building on the town’s heritage and community

pride.

Transforming the city centre

Participants highlighted opportunities to re-imagine spaces, support independent

businesses, develop new visitor attractions, and create vibrant destinations where people want to spend time.

Travel and connectivity

A number of ideas explored how transport and movement around the city could be improved, including active travel networks, integrated transport systems, and innovative ideas to make the city centre easier to access.

Together, these themes highlight a strong shared aspiration: a connected, vibrant and

inclusive city centre that works for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Examples of Community Ideas

The ideas generated during the WrexFactor sessions were wide-ranging and imaginative.

Some of the concepts explored included:

• A Festival City – connecting existing festivals and events into a coordinated

programme celebrating Wrexham’s culture.

• A Strong Wrexham Brand Identity – building a clearer narrative about the town’s

identity and heritage.

• A Waterfront Vision – exploring opportunities around the River Gwenfro and

surrounding areas.

• A Better Connected City Centre – linking key destinations and encouraging people

to spend more time in the city.

• A New Youth Hub – creating a welcoming space for young people to connect, learn

and socialise.

• Improved Active Travel Networks – making it easier to move around the city

sustainably.

Each idea sparked lively discussion, with the panel providing constructive feedback on how the concepts might develop further.

Community Voice at the Heart of Wrexham’s Future

One of the most important outcomes of the WrexFactor event was the energy and

collaboration it created. Participants shared ideas openly, challenged assumptions, and demonstrated a strong collective commitment to the future of Wrexham.

The ideas captured through this process form part of a wider conversation about the future of the city and highlight the importance of community involvement in shaping regeneration and development.

As Wrexham continues to grow and evolve, events like WrexFactor demonstrate the value of bringing people together to explore possibilities and imagine what comes next.