Sir Alex Ferguson battling to stop 3 storey mansion being built next door

Sir Alex Ferguson is battling to stop a three-storey mansion being built next door to his home.

Ferguson has lodged an objection to the planning application which says the property would be too near to his land and out of keeping with others on the street.

The football legend has objected "in the strongest terms" to plans for the new property which he claims is too big and poorly designed.

The 77-year-old former Manchester United manager lives in a £2.3 million house in Wilmslow, Cheshire, with his wife Cathy.

His next door neighbours Peter and Josephine Wilson have submitted proposals to demolish their existing two storey home and replace it with a larger property.

The proposal is for a six-bedroom, 10,000sqft home to replace the current five-bedroom, 3,500sqft one.

Ferguson has lodged an objection to the planning application which says the property would be too near to his land and out of keeping with others on the street.

A statement submitted by Ferguson's solicitors to Cheshire East Council states: "Our client objects in the strongest terms to the grant of planning permission.

"The proposed scale of the new dwelling house and, in particular, the addition of a third storey is inappropriate and out of keeping with the prevailing scale and pattern of development in the locality.

"The proposed development would entail a significant reduction in the established separation distance between the dwelling house on the site and the side boundaries of the plot, to as little as one metre.

"This is out of keeping with the prevailing layout of plots in the area which feature more generous separation distances of four to thirty metres.

"This generous separation distance and the open space to the sides of the buildings is a key element of the character of this designated low density housing area."

It adds: "The application represents a poor design, overdevelopment of the site. The application should be refused accordingly."

Ferguson's representation also pointed out the street is prone to surface water flooding during construction projects.

In a submission to the council, the Wilsons' planning agents said it was "common" for new build replacement dwellings to be constructed in the area.

They added: "The owners are selling their house. There has been interest in the property with regards to demolishing the existing property and rebuilding a larger dwelling

"Sizes of around 10000sqft (929m2) are the median size discussed by interested parties

"These parties require the security of knowing that a larger dwelling of this size will have planning permission."

Planning officials at the local authority are due to make a decision on the application in due course.

Glasgow-born Ferguson retired from the Old Trafford hot seat in May, 2013, after 27 years at the helm.

He had emergency treatment on a brain haemorrhage in May, 2018, and spent several days in intensive care at Salford Royal Hospital, near Manchester.

Earlier this year he raised £400,000 for the NHS as a thank you for the care he received during his health scare.