Wrexham AFC have been told to “get their act in order” after councillors criticised the club for starting work on a new first-team training pavilion before planning permission had been secured.
The two-storey facility at the Gresford training site is already in use, but the partly retrospective planning application was discussed by Wrexham County Borough Council’s planning committee on Monday, September 7.
No decision was made, leaving Wrexham waiting for formal approval while further information is sought over issues including drainage and parking.
Wrexham criticised over Colliers Park application
Cllr Mike Morris, chair of the planning committee, delivered the strongest criticism, telling the club to “get their act in order” over its approach to retrospective applications.
“Get your act in order and don’t put in retrospective applications just because it suits you,” said Cllr Morris.
He also argued that Wrexham’s success did not provide an excuse for failing to follow the normal planning procedure.
Cllr Jeremy Kent, who represents Gresford East and West, acknowledged the positive impact Wrexham have had on the area but similarly argued that the club’s importance could not mean it was able to bypass the usual process.
Gresford Community Council had already expressed disappointment that consultation took place when construction of the pavilion was almost complete.
Why Wrexham built the new training pavilion
The facility has been developed at Colliers Park to give Phil Parkinson’s first team a more complete training base.
Before the new pavilion, players were able to use the pitches at Colliers Park but needed to travel elsewhere for gym, medical and changing facilities.
The new 1,214-square-metre building includes changing rooms, a gym, medical and physiotherapy areas and offices, allowing the first team to do more of their daily work in one location.
Wrexham had previously announced plans to improve Colliers Park, while chief executive Michael Williamson has spoken about the benefits of bringing more of the first team’s training operation together.
Wrexham apologise as planning decision deferred
Chief strategy officer Aidan Miller apologised to councillors and residents for starting construction without permission.
He explained that the club wanted to carry out the work over the summer to minimise disruption, while planning officers considered the pavilion acceptable in principle for the existing sporting site.
There are still concerns to address. Gresford Community Council has raised issues about a proposed reduction in parking, while Natural Resources Wales has requested more information about the private foul drainage system and potential phosphorus impact on the River Dee and Bala Lake Special Area of Conservation.
The planning decision has been deferred, meaning Wrexham’s first team is already using the pavilion even though the application has not yet received final approval.
Colliers Park is intended to improve Wrexham’s training set-up while the club works towards its longer-term plans. For now, the immediate task is completing the planning process for a building that’s already in use.
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