EX-FOOTBALLER Gary Neville is expected to have plans for a new luxury home rejected today.

Plans submitted by the former Manchester United star to build on green belt land in Bromley Cross are due to come before Bolton Council’s planning committee this afternoon.

Local authority officers have recommended that councillors reject the proposals as the “very special circumstances needed to justify the development do not exist”.

The Sky Sports football pundit has argued that the site is, in fact, brownfield land that has been previously developed.

However, the council says Mr Neville has not provided evidence that the Grange Road plot has been in use for at least 10 years.

A report from the council’s planning office said: “It is concluded that the harm to the green belt by the proposed development by reason of its inappropriateness is not clearly outweighed by other considerations. The very special circumstances needed to justify the development do not exist.”

It adds: “In the circumstances, officers consider that the applicant has not provided evidence to show that the application site forms part of the residential curtilage and should be therefore considered to be deemed to be previously developed brownfield land.

“As such, officers consider the application site as a separate parcel of undeveloped greenfield land within the green belt.”

Mr Neville previously hit the headlines with his plans for a futuristic home in Harwood, which was likened to a home on children’s TV series Teletubbies.

Those controversial proposals, which were subject to a lengthy planning battle, were later abandoned.

A planning statement submitted by Zerum, the property consultancy firm in which Mr Neville is a partner, said: “The principle of residential garden development is considered acceptable in this location as it is well-established in the area, the plot having been historically subdivided and it involving a residential garden located outside the 'built-up area'.

“The proposed accommodation will enable the regeneration of a rural brownfield site with a stronger and more active built form that positively interacts with Grange Road and neighbouring dwellings.

“It will contribute towards the high quality, individual craftsmanship typical of this road — an accessible location — as well as assisting with the regeneration of the area.”

The town hall meeting is at 2pm this afternoon.