Wrexham AFC has opened its new first-team training pavilion at Colliers Park before receiving planning permission, a move that has upset the local community council.
The Championship club's chief executive, Michael Williamson, confirmed on Friday night that players would move into the new building in Gresford this week. He described the development as a "significant step forward" for the club as they pursue promotion to the Premier League.
In his programme notes for Wrexham's match against Birmingham City on Friday, Williamson wrote: "Next week we will also move into our new training pavilion at Colliers Park. This is a significant step forward for the club."
Retrospective application lodged late
According to the BBC, the planning application for the pavilion was only submitted in August, when the building was nearly finished. Gresford Community Council said it was "disappointed" to have been consulted so late in the process.
The community council has formally objected to the application, which will now be considered by Wrexham Council's planning committee on September 7. Councillors will decide the fate of a structure that is already completed and in use.
In its objection, Gresford Community Council raised concerns about the loss of 17 car parking spaces at the training ground and the potential impact on the surrounding area. The council stated: "The Council is disappointed to note that that this consultation was not received until the work is almost complete. The Council is concerned as to whether the reduction in parking allows sufficient remaining parking at the location."
Drainage concerns and past criticism
Natural Resources Wales has not objected to the project in principle but has requested further evidence on sewage and drainage plans. The club has been asked to demonstrate why a connection to the public sewer was not possible before a private drainage solution could be approved.
Wrexham has previously faced criticism from the planning committee for submitting retrospective applications. In December 2024, when plans for the youth academy development were approved, Cllr Mike Morris accused the club of doing so "on a regular basis."
"I think in terms of the track record of the football club and their retrospective applications that they tend to submit on a regular basis, I think we need to be as tight as possible," he said.
Until now, players and staff have used changing facilities at The Racecourse Ground before travelling to Colliers Park for training, and they have also eaten at the stadium.
Earlier this year, manager Phil Parkinson called the development "huge" for the club. He said: "Like I've said many times, we've progressed so quickly on the pitch that facilities like the new stand and the training facilities, it has been tough to keep up-to-date with the team's progress."
Parkinson added: "But this is going to give the staff and the lads a huge boost because at Championship level, we are obviously competing with teams who have got state-of-the-art training grounds. It is going to be great having our base there from Monday to Friday and when you go to The Racecourse. It will feel like a special day, a unique match-day."
