Welsh Slate will provide the roofing and flooring for the first major redevelopment of York racecourse’s northern end in 100 years.

Phelan Architects specified the firm as a supplier of a natural material that will complement the racecourse’s listed buildings, while their longevity will guarantee the materials for 100 years and can perform for an even longer time than that.

Part of the Lagan Group, Welsh Slate will supply products that include 14,000 Penrhyn Heather Blue County-grade roof slates installed by Sothall Roofing on the stables which will include a 30˚ pitch roof, on the circular roof of the Winning Connections building, and on the 40˚ pitch roof weigh-in building with mitred hips and valleys and concealed gutters.

A total of 900m2 of 600mm x 300mm and 300mm x 300mm riven and gauged Cwt Y Bugail 12mm Welsh Slate flooring was also specified for the internal toilets and wet areas of the stables and weigh-in building and for the toilets and internal corridors on the champagne lawns and this was installed by the appointed York-based construction company  Lindum.

These elements make up £5 million of the redevelopment of the northern end of the racecourse which will total £10 million. The northern end of the racecourse was laid out in the early 1900s to the designs of Walter Brierley.

Over the years, the racecourse has seen additions but this was the first comprehensive redevelopment of the Conservation Area in 100 years.

In order to ensure maximum safety for both racegoers and horses, Phelan proposed moving the enclosure wall which gave them a small addition area which would allow them to relocate the pre-parade ring and provide new saddling boxes complete with dedicated wash-down yard and veterinary stocks box, and weigh-in building with fine-dining restaurant.

In turn, this allowed champagne lawns to be re-ordered, with new bard, toilets and back of house space.