Ole to demolish mansion

Chris Hudson

November 01, 2007

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Solskjaer plans to demolish this 50-year-old cottage

Solskjaer plans to demolish this 50-year-old cottage 1/5 Play Slideshow

UNITED legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to demolish a £1.8m cottage to build an `eco-pad'.

The five-bedroom environmentally-friendly house will mean the end for a 50-year-old cottage on the site at Nether Alderley, near Knutsford.

Norwegian Solskjaer, who retired from playing in August, has applied to build a Scandinavian-style home with a games room and the option to add a detached swimming pool building.

The house was designed by Manchester company Indigo and will be a glass and timber construction in render and stone with a slate roof.

Solskjaer, 34, who famously scored United's winner in the 1999 Champions League final, has opted for practicality over opulence unlike many Premiership stars.

Blueprints show plans to use solar power and ground source heat pumps to warm the pool, `low volume flush systems' on his toilets and heavy natural insulation.

The former striker - now on Old Trafford's coaching books - submitted plans to send in the bulldozers just weeks after buying the property in August.

His application states: "The existing dwelling is not suitable for the requirements of the current owners and the redevelopment of a new dwelling on the site will enable their living requirements to be met more readily.

Contemporary design

"The proposal will be of contemporary design using materials to reflect the area and provide a bespoke high quality dwelling."

The plans, lodged with Macclesfield council, are being treated with a `wait-and-see' attitude by neighbours.

One, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I have no strong feelings either way at the moment.

"I have heard he is a nice man and I believe he has a young family so it will lovely to have kids around. I just hope it doesn't spoil the layout of the lane."

Macclesfield council confirmed it has received Solskjaer's planning application, although no recommendation for approval or rejection has been made by planning officers.

Planners can either pass it through delegated powers, send it to a planning committee to make the decision or send it back to the drawing board.

Solskjaer's former Old Trafford team-mates Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have all recently knocked down historic properties to make way for their own purpose-built homes.

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Mr Angry, Bury (01/11/2007 at 07:44)

I would like to see this kind of thing stopped. It is wasteful in the extreme, people with more money than sense knocking down a perfectly good property and, as is usual today, the replacement will no doubt be very ugly.

This environmentalism has got completely out of control, it has reached the proportions of the "reds under the bed" paranoia under McCarthy in the USA in the early 50's and is now a means of thought control.

Any party which states that it is all rubbish and completely ignores it would now get my vote

Speaking Bull, East Tepee (01/11/2007 at 08:27)

Oli,

SELL UP! MOVE OUT! Build it where it will be appreciated. Salford Queys????

bendavis, whitefield (01/11/2007 at 08:59)

looks like a great idea.

the cottage that's already there is nice enough but hardly a listed building or anything really is it.

I bet the new place looks proper cool, plus anything thats good for the environment can't be a bad thing.

cue the whinging daily mail lot up in arms

Cheryl, Greater Manchester (01/11/2007 at 09:10)

"The existing dwelling is not suitable for the requirements of the current owners and the redevelopment of a new dwelling on the site will enable their living requirements to be met more readily."

If it's not suitable, then why buy it!! He'd have been better off looking for a plot of empty land that already had approval for building a residential dwelling if he was going to be so picky!! I'm all for eco-friendly properties -- but not at the expense of a character property (unless said property is structurally unsafe)

I really hope his application gets turned down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Octavius Tinsworth Ace (01/11/2007 at 09:13)

This property is in Nether Alderley where most of the houses are virtually hidden from view from the road. So why should anyone care what he wants to do with his money? It will matter not one jot to anyone, probably not even his next door neighbours.

Plus, it's Ole and he do whatever he damn well likes in my view :)

Drowlins, Manchester (01/11/2007 at 09:20)

Didnt Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane do the same???

I too think it wrong. This is a beautiful cottage in a loveley location and its going to demolished to make way for a modern eysore!

MG (01/11/2007 at 09:59)

You have got to be thankful it is not being pulled down to build a dozen flats.

AH, Manchester (01/11/2007 at 10:26)

what an absolute shame! this cottage is lovely. Modern houses are AWFUL

Mr Angry, Bury (01/11/2007 at 11:06)

bendavies, you have swallowed this propaganda whole. It is nothing to do with the environment, it is just a property developer parting someone with lots of money from a hefty chunk of it.

Demolishing something which is perfectly serviceable is NOT environmentally friendly

Vicky, Manchester (01/11/2007 at 12:00)

How is this a cottage? For your assistance:

cottage –noun 1. a small house, usually of only one story.
2. a small, modest house at a lake, mountain resort, etc., owned or rented as a vacation home.

And it must have been built or around 1957 so its not like it has any historical interest. Why shouldn't he build the home he wants instead?

Just to clarify: I agree that knocking down building unnecessarily can be wasteful and far from "Eco-friendly". But when it comes down to it in the long run it will be benefical to the environment, no-one can see it and he's doing it with his own money.

Phil Hulme (01/11/2007 at 12:42)

If he was so concerned about the environment he should retain the existing cottage - demolition of a perfectly good property and replacing it with a new building is waste of natural resources. If he doesn't like the house he should buy a brownfield plot and build there. Hope the council rejects his application. The only thing in favour of the proposed house is that it isn't as tacky as the one Wayne Rooney built!

Andrew Deighton (01/11/2007 at 15:29)

Yes Ryan Giggs did carry out a redevelopment of a plot in Worsley I believe. This is now a very common practice, not just for premiership footballers.

If the existing building isn't a listed building or in a preservation area, then I understand it to be a fairly routine planning matter.

Griswald, Stockport (01/11/2007 at 19:31)

Not surprised he's getting rid - what a perfectly awful little house; only 2 double garages and no porch!!!

Giles (02/11/2007 at 06:00)

His application states: "The existing dwelling is not suitable for the requirements of the current owners and the redevelopment of a new dwelling on the site will enable their living requirements to be met more readily.

Fancy paying £1.8m for a house and then deciding two months later that it isn't suitable so it needs to be knocked down and started from scratch.

Henry Piggot-Smythe, Prestbury (02/11/2007 at 06:56)

Beecham Tower Manchester is the ideal place for these footballers and their lady friends to mix and socialize with their own kind if what I have read about it on these pages is an accurate description. If this address helps rid my area of these muscle bound clots and their painted faced floozies who are only one step up from the shaven headed oafs and tattooed harlots they left behind on their council estates just because they were physically fitter and bigger breasted than their counterparts. There should be a law against giving these people so much money that they able to invade the bastions of society that once made this country great.

pm (02/11/2007 at 09:31)

looking at the photo I don't think that demolition will be as eco-wasteful as it might at first appear. Around 90% of what you see will be salvageable. The roof tiles and bricks will be carefully removed and palletised and sold to somebody around the corner who is demolishing their 'modern' home for something more traditional.

jsac1984 (02/11/2007 at 09:56)

Henry Piggot-Smythe, its people like you that dont deserve to have money . Just beacuse you live in Prestbury , it doesnt make you more entitled to do as you please . I bet your wife enjoys spending money doesnt she?

Vicky, Manchester (02/11/2007 at 10:01)

JSAC: "Henry Piggot Smythe" is taking the mickey. He's what is known as a troll, deliberately posting inflammatory comments on a message board in order to get a reaction.

flipsterlondon (formally M28), Marylebone, London (02/11/2007 at 13:26)

LOL!!! HPS funny man - heavily painted flewsies!!!

HILARIOUS - the main reason why I read these comment boards - more please!!!

Mikee8 (02/11/2007 at 14:43)

Is it an eco pad to get round building regulations? or an excuse to build a mega babe layer complete with bat cave

Francis Needham (09/07/2008 at 19:57)

Comfortable houses like this are one reason why this area of Cheshire is so pleasant. It is very upsetting that these super-rich sportsmen buy them to replace them with tasteless structures and alter a village so badly. They are ruining Alderley Edge and neighbouring villages. It is incredible that they get planning permission for this.

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