Fridge boss's dream home vision frozen out

Published on Wednesday 5 November 2008 01:50

FRIDGE tycoon Willie Haughey's dream of building "Scotland's finest home" has been thrown out after the government rejected his ambitious plans.

The former Celtic director – one of Scotland's richest men – wanted to build a mansion with views of his beloved Celtic Park on the 11-acre site.

Mr Haughey, 52, the chairman of City Refrigeration Holdings, had been given the go-ahead for the development at Greenleeshill Farm, which sits on land separating Cambuslang and East Kilbride in Lanarkshire.

He said the design for the mansion was inspired by old American colonial homes and he wanted to build "the finest home in Scotland".

It was to include six bedrooms, three lounges, four bathrooms, a games room and a swimming pool.

South Lanarkshire Council planning officers had recommended Mr Haughey's plans be given the green light in December last year. But the application was referred to the Scottish Government on account of it being situated on greenbelt land.

Now his vision for the 28,000sq ft property has been scuppered after the proposals were rejected because of its location.

Last night, Mr Haughey said: "I'm bitterly disappointed, I wasn't expecting to get a refusal. There were no objections from locals or environmental groups. The only people to raise objections were an SNP councillor, and a Tory councillor."

Mr Haughey added: "It just leaves a really bitter taste especially when I've done so much to invest in the region and all I want to do is build a nice home for myself. I don't know where to go from here."

Last night a Scottish Government spokesman said: "The application was called in for determination by ministers in February due to the proposed development's possible implications for policies in the East Kilbride Local Plan and Scottish planning policies relating to housing, green belts and rural development."

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman added: "The planning application was approved by the council's planning committee on 4 December 2007.

"However, the application required to be referred to the Scottish Government as it constituted development in the greenbelt which was contrary to the Development Plan.

"The application was subsequently 'called in' for the Scottish ministers to determine. Scottish ministers have now refused planning permission."