Ryan Reynolds in row with Welsh residents over 'brutal' new Wrexham plan

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney want to create a base for Wrexham's youth academy - but neighbours aren't happy

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have found themselves embroiled in a row over plans for a new training facility for the club’s young stars.

The two actors want to create a base for the League One side’s youth academy as part of a multi-million pound development at Darland High School in the Wrexham village of Rossett.

However, the ambitious proposals have attracted anger from locals after some construction work started before planning permission was granted.

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Neighbours have slammed the scale and “brutal” appearance of the scheme, which would see two buildings and two shipping containers erected on an area of green land.

A decision on the planning application is due to be made next week, with residents raising further concerns over increased noise, traffic and light pollution.

Documents also reveal the presence of great crested newts has previously been detected near the site.

A summary of the nine letters of objection submitted to Wrexham Council states: “The brutal commercial and industrial appearance is not in keeping with the proposed location within the green wedge.

“The development goes against planning policy advice in regards to the green wedge.

“The school will lose the use of some athletic practice areas as a result of the proposal.

“The development is retrospective and the council should have made them stop work until the application was determined. The development brings no benefit to the Rossett community.”

Wrexham’s co-owners have often railed against UK planning bureaucracy in the past, with their frustrations aired on the hit documentary Welcome to Wrexham.

It followed delays to proposals to build a new 5,500-seater Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground.

In an interview with American entertainment website Collider in April, Reynolds said: “I think the thick buttress of bureaucracy is the biggest problem.

“In Wales, it really is a lot of red tape, and it's just sort of figuring out ways to tick all those boxes and make sure that every single bureaucrat is happy."

McElhenney added: “It is definitely a comedic point of consternation in the show how often we're running up against bureaucracy.

“It's a lot harder to build in the UK than, I found, almost anywhere else in the world.”

If approved, the academy facilities will include changing rooms, offices, meeting rooms, a medical room and a gym.

The proposals were crucial to Wrexham being granted EFL Category Three academy status earlier this year.

In a planning statement, agents acting on the club's behalf said: “The training facility will be used by the Wrexham AFC academy teams, from ages nine to 18.

“The proposed academy buildings will enable the development and education of young athletes both on and off the pitch.”

Despite objections to the scheme, the application has been backed to go ahead by a senior official from the local authority.

Wrexham Council’s chief planning officer, David Fitzsimon, said in a report to councillors: “The provision of new facilities will improve the overall sporting offer at the site.

“Planning policy directs that there is a presumption against inappropriate development within green wedges and the construction of new buildings are generally considered inappropriate development.

“However, the development is an essential facility for outdoor sport and recreation and as such meets the exemption criteria.”

Mr Fitzsimon said the new buildings would be located “discreetly” behind the school and were relatively small compared to those surrounding them.

He added: “Having regard to the above, the development does not harm the character of the existing school and leisure facilities or the wider surrounding landscape.

“The scale, size and siting of the buildings are considered appropriate and do not unacceptably impact on the living conditions of any nearby residents.”

The proposals have been recommended for approval subject to a condition requiring biodiversity improvement measures to be delivered.

A decision will be made at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Monday (December 2, 2024).