WREXHAM has been formally awarded city status.

The UK Government has announced its list of eight places and Wrexham has been given the nod. 

The competition to receive civic honours was last run ten years ago to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and this year for the first time ever the competition for city status was open to applications from the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, with the Falklands’ Stanley and Douglas of the Isle of Man among the winners.

The Wrexham Business Professionals groups has backed the bid - describing it as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".

Wrexham Council said: "Today (Friday, May 20), the UK Government has announced that Wrexham has been successful in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee City Status competition.

"This means that Wrexham will become Wales’ newest city.

"Wrexham Council welcomes the announcement and will make a formal statement on how it will maximise the benefits of this accolade after a new political administration is formed on Wednesday, May 25 (following the recent local council elections)."

It’s important to note that the City Status competition is completely separate to the City of Culture 2025 competition.

The City of Culture competition is being run by the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Wrexham – as one of four shortlisted locations – is also in the running for the City of Culture title, and a decision on the winner of that competition is expected in the near future.

Eight places won the royal honour this year ahead of the Jubilee weekend, the highest number of awards in a single competition:

·  Bangor, Northern Ireland

·  Colchester

·  Doncaster,

·  Douglas, Isle of Man

·  Dunfermline, Scotland

·  Milton Keynes,

·  Stanley, Falkland Islands

·  Wrexham

The Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Competition required applicants to demonstrate how their unique communities and distinct local identity meant they deserved to be awarded city status. They were also required to highlight their royal associations and cultural heritage. 

Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, said: “Wrexham has a wonderful history and an exciting future and I am absolutely delighted to see it awarded city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

“There is already much for Wrexham to be proud of and I hope city status will bring further recognition for everything the community has to offer and brings further opportunities for Wrexham’s prosperity and growth.”  

Border Counties Advertizer: Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart. Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Steve Barclay, said: “I am delighted that a record number of locations have been awarded the prestigious city status as part of Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. 

"What was clear to me during the process of assessing each application was the pride that people felt for their communities, local cultural heritage and the Royal Family. 

“As we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s colossal contribution to society, I am thrilled that we are able to recognise some of the many places that make Britain great.

“It is also incredibly reflective of Her Majesty’s global outlook and years of international service that applicants from the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have been selected as winners for the first time.

“I look forward to the world coming together to show our pride and gratitude to Queen Elizabeth II on the Jubilee weekend.”

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Winning city status can provide a boost to local communities and open up new opportunities for people who live there, as is the case with previous winners Perth and Preston where residents have described how their success contributed to increased national and global standing, putting them on the international map as a place to do business.

Research shows that Perth, which was granted city status in 2012 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, has reaped the full benefits, with the local economy expanding by 12 per cent in the decade it was granted city status.

Applications were opened last year and almost 40 locations from across the UK and beyond put forward their bid to become a city. The applications, which were asked to follow a clear structure were subsequently evaluated by a panel of experts and Cabinet Office ministers, before a recommendation was put to Her Majesty The Queen.

‘Letters Patent’ will now be prepared which will confer each of the awards formally and will be presented to winners later in the year.