Blackburn Rovers owners ‘buy Gary Neville £5m mansion’ (From Chorley Citizen)

Blackburn Rovers owners ‘buy Gary Neville £5m mansion’

11:00am Sunday 7th August 2011

A £5MILLION mansion belonging to former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville is understood to have been sold to the owners of Blackburn Rovers.

Alexander House, which is 13 miles from Ewood Park, near Bolton, sits on a 90-acre estate, boasts seven-bedrooms, four reception rooms, six bathrooms, a cinema room, indoor swimming pool, gym, games room and lift over four floors.

Agents involved in the sale have confirmed a purchase has gone through.

The Rao family, who own chicken farming company Venky’s, had been strongly linked with the property and it is understood an offer from them has now been accepted.

The Rao family were also said to be interested in Rovers star David Dunn’s £3 million mansion in the Ribble Valley, but have decided to purchase Mr Neville’s home instead.

Tim Waring, a partner at agents Knight Frank who handled the sale, said: “Alexander House has now been sold. I cannot say anything more.”

The site in Tottington Road is being sold after Mr Neville won planning permission for his eco home — likened by some critics to the Teletubbies children’s TV show set.

The futuristic £8 million development, which has won plaudits from influential architectural and environmental groups, will be built into the side of the West Pennine Moors within the former defender’s estate — meaning the Raos could have the former England defender and his wife Emma as neighbours.

The couple spent three years designing it and included a wind turbine, which would also power the Rao’s new home.