Ryan Reynolds upsets council as new Wrexham development opens without permission | OneFootball

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have angered a local council after the Championship club opened its first-team training pavilion at Colliers Park before planning permission had been determined. Chief executive Michael Williamson said players would move in this week as the club bids for a historic Premier League promotion this season.

According to the BBC, the planning application was only lodged in August when the build was almost complete, prompting Gresford Community Council to express disappointment at being consulted so late.

The community council has objected and the proposal will go to Wrexham Council’s planning committee on seven September, with councillors set to consider a structure already finished and in use.

Objectors flagged the loss of 17 car parking spaces at the training ground and questioned whether remaining capacity and the wider impact on nearby streets had been properly addressed.

Natural Resources Wales has not objected in principle but wants further evidence on sewage and drainage, including why a connection to the public sewer was not possible before a private system is allowed.

Wrexham have previously been criticised for submitting retrospective applications, with Cllr Mike Morris saying in December 2024 that, in his view, the club did this regularly and that controls should be tight.

Williamson framed the pavilion as a significant step, giving players a single base at Colliers Park and helping recruitment, while reducing reliance on the Racecourse for changing and meals. Until now, squads changed and ate at the stadium before training.

Earlier this year, manager Phil Parkinson called the development huge for the club, saying it would lift staff and players as they compete with Championship teams boasting state-of-the-art facilities, and make the Racecourse feel a distinct matchday experience.

Source: Wales Online

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