The Rooney’s housebuilder had routes diverted as there were safety concerns for the family
A public footpath and bridleway were diverted at Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s new mansion so they would be more secure from prying eyes.
The Rooney’s housebuilder also had the routes rerouted as there were safety concerns for the family. The developer, Brighouse Homes, argued the original paths should be positioned elsewhere to protect the privacy and security of the mega mansion.
Man United legend Wayne and wife Coleen only bought the farm in Marthall, Cheshire, once the developer managed to get the public rights of way changes. Documents on Cheshire East Council’s website show the access routes were changed after the Public Rights of Way Committee agreed to the application to divert part of the bridleway and footpath.
A consultant was hired by the Rooney’s developer to help with the process. The committee were told planning permission for a substantial new residential dwelling – now dubbed Waynechester Manor – had already been approved.
It included garages, stables, a manege and small golf course, but the authority heard that both public rights of way passed very close to the planned property.
A report stated: “Diverting the path to a new route would offer greater privacy and security to the property as well as increasing the safety for users by removing potential conflict with vehicles crossing at two separate points in front of the property.”
“The existing section of the public footpath to be diverted ran through fields and passed adjacent to the northern side of the new dwelling and then across fields behind,” the report said. It added: “Diverting this section would also afford greater privacy.”
A report from the Public Rights of Way Manager said: “Diverting sections of the bridleway and footpath will be of considerable benefit to the landowner in terms of enhancing the security and privacy of the property.
“It is considered that the proposed routes will provide a satisfactory alternative to the current routes and, as such, that the legal tests for the making and confirming of a diversion order are satisfied.
“The applicant has also offered to create, by agreement, an additional length of public footpath that would provide a very useful addition to the local public rights of way network.
“The new routes of the paths would afford improved privacy and security to the occupants of the new dwelling, given that the existing bridleway passes across the frontage of the new dwelling and crossing (what will be) two separate vehicular access points to the dwelling and to the stables / ménage which raise issues of safety and could constitute potential hazards to path users as well as to the occupiers and visitors of the property.”
It states: “In summary, the proposed new routes would follow a line that would: Be solely for the use of horse riders, walkers and cyclists, removing their interaction with the current property and allowing for the development as a residential dwelling to secure greater privacy, and be in the interests of the current and future owners.”
The public rights of way changes were agreed in 2016 and the Rooneys bought the estate the following year once the arrangements were in place.
Land registry records show that Wayne and Coleen paid £4.3m for the then undeveloped farm in 2017.
The couple moved into the vast new £20m home – which was dubbed the Morrisons Mansion by locals – in 2022.
