Gary Neville unveils plans for £8m 'Teletubby' eco-bunker
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Living in Laa-Laa land? Manchester United star Gary Neville unveils plans for £8m 'Teletubby' eco-bunker built into a hillside
Chez Neville: Gary's current home in Bolton, complete with MUFC sculptured hedge opposite the front gate
He is used to lining up alongside Giggsy, Rooney and Rio. Now it seems Gary Neville could soon be rubbing shoulders with Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po.
For the Manchester United star wants to build a country home almost entirely underground - and locals have already dubbed it a second Teletubbyland.
These computer-generated pictures reveal how the multi-million pound luxury eco-bunker would look in the heart of rural Lancashire.
And, appearance-wise, there are indeed similarities with the dwelling occupied by the cuddly TV characters.
Almost all the home will be built into the hillside, which, according to design firm Make Architects, 'enables the surrounding moorland to seamlessly flow across the roof'.
Red Devil with a green dream: Artist's impression of Gary Neville's new eco-home on moors beside his current mansion in Bolton which he hopes to power through solar power and wind energy
Low profile: The innovative design is intended to have minimal impact on views of the Lancashire hills and has been likened to a Neolithic settlement
Time for bye-byes: The artist's impression suggests soft lighting in the 'six petals' of the house will prevent home from being a blot on the landscape at night-time
Its flower-like blueprint has petals radiating from a central kitchen, each designated as respective areas to 'eat, relax, entertain, work and play'.
The architects have compared it to Skara Brae neolithic settlement in Orkney, because of the way it is built into the ground.
But locals prefer the Teletubby comparison. One said: 'Some people have already been sniggering about it looking like the Teletubby house and going "Eh Oh" when they talk about it.'
Laa-Laa land: Laa-Laa lives with Tinky-Winky, Dipsy and Po in the Teletubbies home on BBC
Gary Neville shows his green credentials driving to the training ground in a Toyota Prius part-fuel, part-electricity car
One Manchester United fan said: 'Gary has obviously worked very hard but some of the Old Trafford lads have already been sniggering about it looking like the Teletubbies house and going "eh oh" when they talk about it .
'One or two keep talking about Neville Neville land gets a Tinky Winky house in the garden.'
Neville, 34, bought a farming hamlet near Bolton five years ago and built a 12-bedroom mansion there for himself and wife Emma.
If approved by Bolton Council, the 8,000sq ft bunker will be built in the grounds of the £8million estate and boast the latest eco-technology, in line with Neville's proclaimed passion for the environment.
However, a disgruntled neighbour said: 'The place used to be an extremely modest farmhouse and now the whole thing is out of character.'
Hub of the home: The elegant kitchen in Gary Neville's new eco bunker, with a choice of views
If plans for the project are approved, the building will have solar panel, a wind turbine and a ground source heat pump.
Energy produced from the wind turbine would be used to power his neighbouring property with any extra energy supplying the national grid, helping to reduce his family's carbon footprint.
The structure is so advanced the government wants to use the scheme as a benchmark for all future zero-carbon developments.
In the family? Gary Neville with wife Emma (left) and the wrought-iron gates to Phil and Julia Neville's home, with gaudy initials
He is not the only member of his family to have expensive tastes. His younger brother Phil and his wife Julie had golden gates entwined with the initials P and J, which were also included in the carpet design, at their £4million Versace-themed mansion in Crawshawbooth, Lancashire.
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