News / Wrenbridge Sport – York Community Stadium – Case Study

A project that has been talked about for 15 years was eventually signed in November 2017. The delivery of:

• A new 8000 seat stadium
• 30,000 sq ft of retail
• 5 new restaurants
• 13 screen IMAX cinema
• New community leisure facilities

It has taken Wrenbridge Sport four years working in a consortium with leisure operators Greenwich Leisure Ltd to knit together the JV with the Council alongside pre-lets for the commercial development and funding via Legal & General. Over 120 legal documents needed to entered into simultaneously in order for the deal to work.

The IMAX cinema, let to Cineworld, will be 27 metres high and will be one of the best in Europe with 13 screens.

The project suffered a series of blows that could have derailed it. This included the original contractor withdrawing, our funding being lost due to uncertainty around Brexit and a JR challenge against the planning consent by a rival cinema chain that we subsequently won in the High Court. Throughout this the drive and determination of the Wrenbridge Sport team along with the rest of the consortium ensure this issues were overcome and the landmark scheme for the city of York is a reality.

The deal is now live, and construction is underway on a £41m build contract, due for completion in 2019 so the football and rugby clubs can move in the following season.

The project funded by Legal & General’s leisure fund is part pre-let and part speculative; Legal & General Fund York

Further information can be found here: Wrenbridge Sport