FORMER England footballer Danny Drinkwater has won his battle to build a mansion complete with a games room and bar – but will have to make room for BATS.
The ex-Chelsea, Leicester and Manchester United midfielder, 33, wants to demolish an old cottage and build a new six-bedroom pile at a seven-acre farm in Cheshire.
But a bat survey carried out ahead of the proposed development revealed that the existing pad was being used as a day roost by soprano pipistrelle bats – a protected species.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb or obstruct access to a bat roost.
It means Drinkwater will have to apply for a special licence from conservation body Natural England before building work starts.
And planners at the local council slammed the “inappropriate” and “disproportionate” development on green belt land.
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But they said it was better than the “worst case scenario” of a previously allowed scheme which would result in a “sprawling jigsaw” of building across the site which includes a former munitions shed.
The luxury classical country house-style new build will boast a grand entrance lobby, breakfast area, library, office, snug and garden room.
It will also have no less than five dressing rooms, a staff living area and a roof terrace on the first floor.
There will also be a detached a garage with a special 19x13ft “bat loft” to allow access for the furry mammals.
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The original plans included swimming pool, sauna, cinema, family room, morning and evening terrace and wine store.
Drinkwater, who came through the youth academy at Man Utd, was a key player in Leicester’s Premier League-winning side in the 2015/2016 season.
He moved to Chelsea in 2017 for £35million, signing a five-year contract, but made just 23 appearances for the Blues, scoring just a single goal, and was released by the club in 2022 before announcing his retirement this year.
Now a property developer, his new build was ruled “on-side” by officials at the local council after there were no objections from neighbours.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
