Premier League star who survived cardiac arrest on pitch locked in bitter row with neighbours over ‘Grand Designs’ house
FORMER Premier League star Fabrice Muamba has kicked off a huge row with neighbours after chopping down protected trees without planning permission.
The former Bolton midfielder, 36, sparked fury over plans to turn a 1930’s mock Tudor pad into a modern footballer’s crib complete with a basement gym, cinema and play room.
More than half a dozen locals objected to the “overbearing” and “excessively intrusive” four-storey pad in the so-called Millionaire’s Row in leafy Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Present and past neighbours include Liverpool stars Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez, and former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson and goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Muamba, whose career was tragically cut short when he suffered a cardiac arrest against Tottenham, was given the go-ahead for the Grand Designs-style makeover.
But he was caught offside by council officials after felling a number of trees that were slapped with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), and now faces a possible red card.
Papers filed at the local council reveal that the unauthorised works started last year but have not yet been completed.
In a previous objection, one neighbour wrote: “The removal of much of the mature vegetation and trees before the now abandoned building work has been a massive blow to the general character of the area.”
Another said: “The removal of trees at the front and side of the property has now totally changed the street scene, and had a detrimental effect on the amenity which is not in keeping with the residential area.”
A third added: “This has left the site looking like a wasteland and has adversely affected the outlook of neighbouring properties.”
Muamba bought the five-bedroom pad for £1.3million and aerial photos from the sales listing in 2018 clearly show a cluster of trees at the front of the property.
But when a Cheshire East Council forestry officer visited the site in October she found a large evergreen and a silver birch had been completely axed to the ground.
Muamba has now submitted revised plans for a detached garage and officials are expected to make a decision next month.
The officer said: “During my visit and review of the application, it was evident that the landscape has changed significantly in terms of the tree population.
“Following my site visits, a clear breach of the Tree Preservation Order has occurred.
“This has now been submitted to planning enforcement.”
Muamba’s agent refuted any suggestion of wrongdoing.
He said the couple sent the council an email in October explaining that they had to chop the tree down after high winds caused the tree to “lean dangerously towards the road”.
He said Muamba told the council: “A tree surgeon assessed it and immediately condemned it due to the serious risk to public safety and property.
“Based on this expert advice, I had no choice but to remove it as a precaution.
“To compensate for the loss, I am committed to planting four mature trees and will follow guidance from the Cheshire East Arboriculturist on the most suitable species.
“I informed Cheshire East about this in October 2024, but I am still waiting for any feedback on the matter or the proposed replacement planting.”
Cheshire East council was approached for comment.
Fabrice Muamba's health battle
Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch while playing for Bolton Wanderers in 2012, aged just 23.
His heart stopped due to a cardiac arrest triggered by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but he was saved by quick-thinking medics at the pitchside.
Muamba had been a super-fit elite athlete before being struck down by his heart condition.
Early symptoms can include regularly feeling breathless, dizzy or very tired, or having heart palpitations.
Often it is genetic, meaning it begins at birth, but in some people it can develop over time.
Scientists are not entirely sure why.
The midfielder’s heart stopped for 78 minutes before he could be fully resuscitated.
He has since made a full recovery but retired from professional football shortly after the incident.