Mark Hughes's plans for a £5m Footballers Wives-style mansion in Cheshire's golden triangle
Football manager Mark Hughes has angered villagers by applying to tear down part of a Victorian villa and turn it into a ’green’ family home. Football manager Mark Hughes has angered villagers by applying to tear down part of Brampton House in Alderley Edge and turn it into a ’green’ family home In 2008 Hughes objected to footballer Michael Carrick’s plans to demolish a house across the road from his home in Mottram St Andrew and eventually put it up for sale Meawhile check out more hot article by clicking on the title above. Stacey Solomon strips off for her first jungle shower- - Jennifer Aniston recycles her favourite bikini on yet ANOTHER Mexico holiday- - Story about Sofia Vergara efore she was famouse- - Bathing beauty Natalie Portman wears a VERY tiny bikini in new film- - Brooklyn Decker wearing yellow bikini, intimidating Jennifer Aniston- - Jennifer Aniston wearing a tiny purple bikini in Mexico- - Cindy Crawford puts her killer curves on . . . .- - Natasha Henstridge parades her trimmed down bikini body- - Ashley Tisdale wears a risqué swimsuit on a romantic trip to Las Vegas- - Check her out: Lisa Snowdon almost suffers second bikini malfunction as she tries to adjust gingham two-piece in Miami- - Stunning Lisa Snowdon shows off her model credentials in a series of designer bikinis on Caribbean holiday- - Bathing beauty Natalie Portman wears a VERY tiny bikini in new film- - Nicollette Sheridan showed off her toned body in a black Bikini- - Alex Curran enjoyed yet another day of sunshine and luxury in Dubai Alderley Edge, one of the Golden Triangle towns of Cheshire popular with high-earning soccer stars ’The council is frightened to death of every historic building in the conservation area being demolished.’
Hughes, boss of Premiership club Fulham, has submitted a planning application to demolish the back of historic Brampton House, in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, and turn it into a Footballers’ Wives-style mansion with swimming pool and gym.
The property, on Trafford Road, dates from the 1850s and was originally called Osborne House after Queen Victoria’s royal residence on the Isle of Wight.
The former Manchester United star wants to demolish all but the facade and build a £5million four-bedroom ‘environmentally-friendly’ family home in its place.
The lavish plans include excavating a large swimming pool, complete with sauna, two plunge pools, a gym, weight and treatment room and even creating a tranquility garden.
The property, which Hughes bought for £2.5million two years ago, is not listed but is in a conservation area.
On the ground floor he wants to create a large open plan kitchen, dining room and family seating area, a cinema, study and ‘retreat’ with space for a grand piano. Stairs will lead down into a large glazed garden room, a further lounge and office.
A James Bond-style underground garage, with space for four cars, will also be ‘slid’ under the front lawn and a glazed walkway will connect the main house to a guest suite next door.
The architects claim that by retaining the existing facade the character of the building will be preserved and there will be no significant loss to the conservation area.
But neighbour Elizabeth Mooney said: ’If this planning application is allowed to go ahead, there will be a precedent for this sort of development in the village.
’We don’t care who it is but we need people to understand it’s not all celebrities who live here. There are blue-collar workers and elderly people as well, and we need to make sure Alderley Edge retains its unique character.’
Hughes, who used to manage Manchester City, submitted the plans to Cheshire East Council in May last year but they were rejected. Hughes has appealed against that decision.
Local residents attacked the decision to appeal at a meeting earlier this week. They are fed up with what has been dubbed the ‘Rooney effect’ after he knocked down a five-bedroom house in neighbouring Prestbury to make way for a £4.5million home.
Rooney’s Manchester United teammate Wes Brown and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre acted similarly in Alderley Edge.
Locals say the unique character of the town itself is being lost by the demolition of existing properties and their replacement with tasteless, modern mansions.
Next door neighbour Hilary Magee said: ‘I strongly object to the proposed development. Brampton House is in a much protected conservation area and is a valued part of tradition and history of Alderley Edge.
‘The proposal to retain the facade of the house is merely a cosmetic attempt to retain a Victorian look in a project that is patently modern and non-traditional in every other way.’
Opponents to the plans also include the Edge Association, a group which, three years ago held a referendum on whether the influx of Footballers’ Wives-style homes were spoiling the town.
Martin Sinker, secretary of The Edge Association, said: ’The villa is one of the last remaining villas in Alderley Edge. The residents are not against improvements and development but we are concerned about the impact this application will have on the area.
’Footballers and wealthy businessmen are entitled to move into our village, but they are pushing house prices through the roof and our own children can’t afford to buy property here.
’I know we can’t go backwards, but we cannot afford to let this carry on. Already a lot of the pleasant feel to the village has been lost.’
But Daniel Fitzsimon, of consultants Fitzsimon Planning, hired by Hughes to handle the appeal, told the inquiry ‘careful consideration’ had been given to the plans.
’It seems like the council is almost objecting blindly to the application without considering fully the improvements that the applicant will be making.
A decision on the appeal is expected later this month.
In 2008, residents accused Hughes of double standards when he objected to England midfielder Michael Carrick’s plans to demolish a house across the road from his current family home in nearby Mottram St Andrew and replace it with a £4million mansion.
Hughes, 47, and his wife, Jill, said Carrick’s seven-bedroom rebuild was too large and would overlook their house. When the objection was thrown out, Hughes put his home up for sale.
Councillors said he had set a precedent when he pulled down a bungalow to build his own larger £6million home in its place.
Alderley Edge is one of three villages of Cheshire’s so-called ’golden triangle’, popular with high-earning soccer stars.
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