Manchester City and England footballer Jack Grealish is embroiled in a fierce dispute with local authorities over his ambitious plans to transform part of his sprawling Cheshire estate.
A Horticultural Ambition Meets Planning Resistance
The 30-year-old midfielder has applied for a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development for land at his £5.6 million mansion near Knutsford. Grealish, who states he 'loves growing vegetables', wants to formally designate a section of the property's 9.6-acre grounds as a garden to allow for its extension and use.
However, the local parish council has launched a staunch objection, warning that granting the certificate would make it significantly easier to submit future planning applications, potentially opening the floodgates for development in the protected Green Belt area.
The Council's Dictionary Defence and Green Belt Fears
In a detailed objection letter, the council intriguingly cited the Oxford English Dictionary to argue the land in question does not meet the definition of a garden. They quoted the dictionary's description: "a piece of ground adjoining a private house usually enclosed where flowers, fruit or vegetables are cultivated and generally used for recreation."
The council's core concern is that reclassifying the woodland or curtilage as a garden would erode the 'openness and permanence' of the Green Belt, directly contravening its core purpose of preventing urban sprawl. They pointed to a previous application for the site in February 2020—before Grealish owned the property—which was refused on these exact grounds.
"In our opinion there is little change from the previous application," the council stated, arguing the footballer had provided no compelling reason for a different decision.
Grealish's Family Life and Support for the Application
In his planning submission, Grealish painted a picture of active family use of the outdoor space. He explained how he, his girlfriend Sasha Attwood, and their 14-month-old daughter Mia enjoy the grounds.
"Since I purchased the property my family and I have enjoyed individual golf practice and lessons, tennis lessons and matches, and boating and fishing on the lake," he wrote. "We have used the lawns for regular entertaining with friends and general recreation. The garden spaces are used for exercising our dog and we grow vegetables in the allotment areas."
His application has been supported by the home's former senior gardener of 27 years, as well as the previous owner of the property.
Broader Implications for Local Development
The parish council fears this case is part of a wider pattern, explicitly linking it to a separate major housing proposal known as Mere Hills Farm. They warned that approval for Grealish could pave the way for a future application to develop the entire property residentially.
They also noted that a previous owner had sought to build a retirement village on the estate, an application which was refused in February 2022.
Cheshire East Council, the ultimate planning authority, has declined to comment on the ongoing case. The outcome will be closely watched, setting a potential precedent for similar disputes where private land use ambitions clash with stringent Green Belt protections.
