ANGRY villagers are taking on a Premier League footballer to fight plans for his state-of-the-art eco home in Harwood.

Manchester United star Gary Neville has applied for planning permission to build a futuristic zero-carbon home on his Harwood estate.

But objectors have been battling against the plans since the Bury Times first revealed detailed designs two weeks ago.

Yesterday, residents in Harwood, Bradshaw, Tottington and Affetside gathered for an emergency meeting to rally support.

It was one of many public meetings held in the area in recent days to raise awareness before the deadline for objections on Friday.

One campaigner, Joanne Wilcock, said: “Bolton Council has a real duty to its people here.

“If they allow this to happen, they are opening up the floodgates for people to develop on the whole of the West Pennine Moors.

“I don’t think people are aware of what is going on. They just think there’s a bit of a windmill going up.

“If the planning application is successful, it will be built less than 500 metres from Affetside’s historic Millennium Green and less than 1,000 metres from Harwood — slicing the two communities in two.”

She added: “Gary Neville had three years to put together a very sleek and impressive plan and we are running with the wind to get a reply together.”

Campaigners claim the property’s proposed wind turbine would be almost the height of the Manchester Wheel.

Planning laws allow the building of housing on greenbelt land, providing the designs are “truly outstanding and ground-breaking”.

The wind turbine, a ground-source heat pump and solar panels mean the house will be the first zero-carbon home in Bolton, with electricity generated on the site also being used for Mr Neville’s neighbouring property.

Mr Neville, aged 34, bought the 18th century farming hamlet five years ago and converted it into a 12-bedroom mansion for himself and his wife, Emma. Bradshaw Area Forum will discuss the application at a public meeting in Harwood Library from 6pm on Wednesday.

Anyone wishing to submit comments can also visit www.bolton.gov.uk/planapps and type in application number 83545.

sarah.poole@theboltonnews.co.uk