Retired right back Gary Neville has been given permission to build his 'Teletubbies' house after a government minister waved through the project.
Earlier in the year B&C reported how the ex-Manchester United captain has been locked in a two-year battle to build his dream home on green belt land just outside of Bolton.
But today, 36-year-old Neville can begin construction after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles decided not to intervene.
Local residents had complained, raising objections about a proposed 120ft wind turbine attached to the £8 million flower-shaped mansion.
This despite being described as one of the country’s most energy efficient residential developments, but the council has already received 108 objections to the new scheme, with only three letters supporting it.
Mr Neville had failed to secure planning permission for his home on farmland near Affetside during a contested hearing last year. Instead, he submitted a new bid which proposed a shorter wind turbine.
And a meeting in March, Bolton Council's planning committee finally granted permission for the now football pundit to build his dream home.
However, the contested project could have been 'called in' for further investigation by the Department for Communities and Local Government, but Mr Pickles wrote to BoltonCouncil yesterday to confirm he had no objection.
Bolton Council confirmed that Mr Neville would be free to proceed with the project.
A spokeswoman said: "The Secretary of State has confirmed the application and has decided not to call it in. We have written to the parties concerned to inform them of the decision."
Mr Neville had pointed to guidelines which said buildings of 'exceptional quality' could be allowed on greenbelt countryside.
His architects say the house - which features the kitchen as a centrepiece, with bedrooms and bathrooms flowing from the middle in six petal-like offshoots, also includes a swimming pool, gym, offices, dining rooms and a garage - would be one of the greenest-homes in Britain.
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