NEVILLE HOME PLAN GETS OK
PLANNING CHIEFS BACK HIS NEW HOME SCHEME DESPITE FEARS FOR THE GREEN BELT
Gary Neville has been given the go-ahead to build a luxury home in Bolton – despite fears the development will spill over onto the green belt. The former Manchester United skipper has been given permission to build the detached, two-storey house on a site in Bromley Cross.
GARY Neville has been given the go-ahead to build a luxury home in Bolton - despite fears the development will spill over onto the green belt.
The former Manchester United skipper and TV pundit has been given permission to build the detached, two-storey house on a site in Bromley Cross.
Town hall officers recommended that councillors on Bolton’s planning panel should refuse the ‘inappropriate’ plans as they would ‘harm the purposes and openness of the green belt.’
But members went against that advice, saying they did not believe the site was on the green belt.
The decision means Mr Neville can now move ahead with his plans for the house, which will be located on a leafy road in a desirable suburb of the town.
The new home will include a large driveway and landscaping and looks set to be constructed from traditional materials to the front in grounds adjacent to Ousel Nest, on Grange Road. Planning officers recommended the development should be refused because they considered the site ‘a separate parcel of undeveloped greenfield land’ within the green belt. They wrote: “The very special circumstances needed to justify the development do not exist.” Sky Sports pundit Mr Neville previously lived in a huge farmhouse conversion, Meadow Barn, just on the outskirts of Bolton. Spread across the 35-acre plot, it included a five-hole golf course, tennis court, state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and games room. Mr Neville did not attend Thursday’s meeting and was represented by Mike Ralph, of planning consultants Zerum. Mr Ralph insisted the plot was brownfield land and argued the development would not harm the green belt.
The very special circumstances needed to justify the development do not exist Planning officer’s report
He also highlighted to the committee that there were no objections from residents.
Zerum argued that green belt policy ‘isn’t an embargo upon development.’
The consultants added: “There were no objections from any consultees or neighbours and there were two letters of support.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to approve the plans.