Wrexham AFC has issued a public apology after constructing a new pavilion at their Colliers Park training base without obtaining the necessary planning permission. The club, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, was reportedly told to "get its act in order" by local officials for bypassing planning laws.
An application for the pavilion was submitted to Wrexham Council in August, by which time construction was nearing completion. Councillor Mike Morris, chair of the council's planning committee, expressed disappointment with the club's approach, stating that good results and the team's success, documented in the series 'Welcome to Wrexham,' were not an excuse for circumventing proper procedure. Morris emphasized that the situation was comparable to any other retrospective application.
Michael Williamson, Wrexham's chief executive, described the new building as a "significant step forward" in the Championship club's ambition for promotion to the Premier League. However, council officials maintained that the club's rapid ascent from non-league status did not exempt it from following regulatory processes.
Aidan Miller, Wrexham's chief strategy officer, offered a "sincere apology" on behalf of the club. He explained that the club aimed to conduct the work during the summer off-season to minimize disruption. Miller acknowledged that planning permission is typically required before development begins and apologized to the committee and local residents.
Miller also stated that the club had acted responsibly by selecting an established sporting location, utilizing existing infrastructure, and designing the pavilion to minimize local impact. He added that the club had engaged in pre-application consultations and addressed concerns regarding parking, highways, and environmental mitigation. The application is expected to be determined by the council based on its planning merits after further reports are completed.