Futuristic mansion sparks complaints

The house will be the size of 20 semi-detached houses

A businessman is sending out leaflets to villagers to persuade them that the futuristic mansion he wants to build will not ruin their rural landscape.

Gerald Hitman is seeking planning permission for the huge building in the hamlet of Wiswell near Whalley in Lancashire.

A successful property developer, he selected the design by funding a competition with the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Villagers fear the "modern" house, garden and park will not blend in with the countryside and could affect local water supplies from a natural spring.

Luxury retreat

Mr Hitman has bought 49 acres of land on a hillside where he intends to put the new property up for sale.

A reservoir is planned for the garden

He said: "It'll be a very contemporary country house, that's to say it'll be enormous.

"It'll be about the size of 20 semi-detached houses.

"It'll be the sort of place where an extremely wealthy family will be able to spread themselves out and enjoy themselves."

The house will be U shaped and built with local sandstone, with an indoor swimming pool and rooms set at different levels.

It will be surrounded by a deer park.

Exceptional circumstances

Ribble Valley Borough Council said it will take some while to assess whether the design is of high-enough architechtural value to comply with government guidelines.

"Normally, anyone wanting to build a new house in open countryside would be told 'no chance', " said Richard Sherraff, Chair of the Planning and Development Committee.

"But the guidelines allow a departure from this in exceptional circumstances, if the property that's being proposed is a 'modern stately home', so-to-speak."

RIBA judges found that the property's architect, Frank Lyons, had "taken into acount the defining characteristics of the local area".

Public protest

But local residents have lodged complaints with the council.

One man said: "It's the environmental issues.

"The houses on the other side of the hill draw their water from the natural springs."

A local woman said: "I don't think the plans will blend in with local buildings or scenery.

"The ecological and environmental aspects do need a lot of looking at."

Mr Hitman said: "My ambition is like that of every other generation, to leave one or two really great country houses for future generations to enjoy."