THING OF THE WEEK
TAKE A STAND… There was a time not too long ago when the idea of a pair of dragons fashioned out of locally-kilned brick would be something worth celebrating. However, this is 2025, the year of the cynic, so when Populous’s designs for Wrexham AFC’s new Kop were unveiled this week, they were met with derision in some quarters.
One commenter described the brick façade as looking like a “90s Iceland supermarket on a retail park”, which seems harsh. But who are these opinionated people – disgruntled fans of other teams jealous of the fame Wrexham’s Hollywood owners have brought the club? Or Wrexham fans whose expectations have been elevated so considerably in recent years that they cannot be pleased about the fact their new stand is being designed by the same firm that counts Wembley among its past projects?
Credit: via EKPS
GROUNDHOG DAY… Wrexham’s new Kop was not the only North West stadium news to emerge this week. Warrington Wolves announced plans to temporarily rename its ground the Luke Littler Stadium to honour the local darting phenomenon, while Euan Kellie Property Solutions’ eponymous founder fulfilled a dream job as his firm submitted plans for a new disabled viewing platform at the Deva Stadium, home to his beloved Chester FC.
A SPLASH OF COLOUR… When an architect goes walking around a city they do so with an analytical, sometimes critical eye. Catalina Ionita, senior architect at Chapman Taylor, took to LinkedIn recently to highlight a space in Manchester in need of an injection of life.
Passing under the arches on Water Street next to Aviva Studios, Ionita was left feeling cold by the blankness of it all. Surely this space could be so much more, she thought. With a little help from AI, she generated an image to demonstrate how better use could be made of the space. “It has so much potential to become a truly vibrant and engaging space—something more than just a passageway,” Ionita said. One can only assume there was not enough money left in the pot.
Autotrader will occupy 130,000 sq ft at Bruntwood Scitech’s Circle Square. Credit: via Citypress
THE DRUGS DON’T WORK… The property industry gathered at Deloitte’s swanky new office for its annual Manchester crane survey meet up this week to hear about the city’s development landscape. One headline from this year’s report is that the number of new-build offices under construction is down, which was a surprise to absolutely nobody. Autotrader recently snapped up 130,000 sq ft of the limited supply of new-build office space in Manchester and the firm’s chief people and operations officer Alison Ross had some choice words about the working from home craze that many believe is underpinning a lack of office development. “Working from home is a bit like drugs,” she said. “You get an immediate high and long-term it is really bad for your mental health.”
The potholes have now been filled. Credit: Liam Riby via Unsplash
POTHOLES.. The short-lived viral attraction that guaranteed “award-winning potholes with very little actual road to spoil your fun” in North Wales, has officially closed after Wrexham Council repaired the craters. It would seem the government’s £170m pothole-filling regime has begun to pave over the past, meaning that tourists hoping to visit the road to see holes described by locals as the “deepest”, “longest”, and “widest” ruts in the nation will have to get their kicks elsewhere. Labour promised change and, as far as potholes are concerned, seems to be delivering. However, fresh tarmac may never heal the plight of locals, who having been subject to “years of concerted council inaction”.
