Wayne Rooney has won a planning battle over improving the security around his new £20million six-bedroom mega-mansion after residents initially opposed the proposal.
The former England and Manchester United star, 34, lodged plans to build a set of imposing gates and a wall at the front of his luxury property, which is mocked for looking like an out-of-town Morrisons superstore, after completing his dream home in Cheshire earlier this year.
However soon after the plans were submitted, residents challenged the proposal, fearing the 9.1ft-high gate and 5.9ft boundary wall surrounding the property would ruin the ‘views and visual amenity’ of the local countryside.
Wayne Rooney has won planning permission to improve the security around his new £20million mansion in Cheshire despite some residents resisting the idea over fears it would ruin the landscape of the countryside
The footballer, who completed his dream home in Cheshire earlier this year, initially submitted plans to build a 9.1ft-high gate and 5.9ft boundary wall at the front of his luxury property
The property, which has previously been compared to an out-of-town Morrisons superstore, boasts a bar, TV room, snooker room, cinema and wine cellar
Dr Elizabeth Maddock, clerk of Ollerton and Marthall Parish Council, said: ‘The Parish Council are concerned that the significant increase in height will have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt, given security is proposed, is this height necessary?’
While Lucinda Long, from Cheshire East Council’s landscaping team, said: ‘The effects on views and visual amenity would be most pertinent to Public Bridleway users.
‘The existing barred gates are visually permeable and have a top-line below an adult’s eye level, however the proposed walls and proposed larger replacement gates are all solid with a top-line above eye-level.
‘I consider these solid barriers would be imposing and would incrementally urbanise this location.
‘The proposed structures are significantly larger than the existing and would reduce openness due to their size and solidity.’
After the concerns were raised by residents, Rooney amended his plans for the boundary wall and council officers approved the proposal.
The footballer (left with wife Coleen and right with wife and four sons) paid more than £4million to a Cheshire property developer to build his new mansion
The three-storey mansion in the Cheshire countryside boasts an incredible array of facilities from a library to an underground gym
Residents feared the 9.1ft-high gate (pictured is an artist impression of the front gate) and the 5.9ft boundary wall would ruin the views of the countryside
The revised plans saw the footballer change his 9.1ft boundary wall into a metal railing fence with a hedge of the same height, while the gates remained the same.
Case officer Adam Barnes, from Cheshire East Council, concluded: ‘The proposal would be sympathetic and comply with SD2 and would now be constructed of materials to match the existing building.
‘The comments of the landscape officer and OMPC were taken on board by the applicants and a more modest revised proposal was submitted that is considered acceptable whilst affording security.
‘The gates are in a very secluded position at the end of an access road.’
The three-storey property, which Rooney, his four sons Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass with his wife Coleen are set to move into within months, will boast an orangery, bar, TV room, snooker room, cinema and wine cellar within its walls.
The mansion also has two floors as well as a subterranean basement, which is home to the steam room, plunge pool, hot tub, gym, cinema room with ten seats, wine cellar and snooker room with bar.
Plans for the gate will remain the same while the boundary wall has since been amended after residents voiced their concerns. Pictured: An artistic impression of Rooney’s front gate
In addition to the luxury features, the ex-Premier League star’s pad will also include an extensive patio, landscaped gardens, a luxury car garage and a stable block.
The revised plans for the property’s security will see the footballer change his 9.1ft boundary wall into a metal railing fence with a hedge
It also has a ‘guest toilet’ too and separate lifts – one for the family, the other for visitors to avoid the social faux pas of using the couple’s own downstairs loo.
Rooney’s planning agents said in the application for the gates and walls: ‘The proposed development will result in a new boundary wall of approximately 1.8 metres in height.
‘The gate pillars are to be around 2.8 metres in height, with the new access gates ranging from 2.3-3 metres in height.
‘The replacement wall and gates, while a larger structure, will be more obscure from the surroundings, including the bridleway that runs parallel to the south-eastern boundary.
‘New landscaping, in the form of a hedgerow will enhance the existing hedgerow planting at the site frontage, reducing the visual impact of the new boundary wall and gates from the lane to the south.’
Plans for the large property were originally submitted in 2014 and given full approval by the local council before the property was bought by the Rooneys.
It emerged three months ago that Rooney paid more than £4million to a Cheshire property developer to build his new mansion.
Planning documents revealed the site was formerly a construction yard and working farm owned by property developer Russell Brighouse with 51 acres of land owned by the Cheshire house builder.
Council documents read: ‘The site was previously a working farm but is now primarily used by the client as a main base for a construction business as well as a builders yard and associated external storage areas.’
The documents further reveal that Mr Brighouse himself only paid £1million for the same plot of land only ten years before in December 2005, four times less than the current value today.
All-time Three Lions top-scorer Rooney was one of the Premier League’s highest paid players on a reported £300,000-a-week.
He is said to have amassed an £82million fortune from his wages, property portfolio and sponsorship deals.
Rooney’s property portfolio also includes a £5million sprawling Barbados villa, which he rents out for £25,000 a week and a £320,000 waterfront apartment in Florida.
He also still owns his £6million home in nearby Prestbury which he purchased in 2005, however it is not known if he intends to sell it.