Marcus Rashford’s Eco-Friendly Dream Home Faces Major Delays
Marcus Rashford, the 27-year-old English footballer, is facing a series of unexpected challenges in his quest to complete his dream eco-friendly home. The property, located on a former nine-hole golf course in Cheshire countryside, was initially valued at £2.5 million. However, the construction has been plagued by delays, with reports suggesting that the project is still not completed five years after it began.
Rashford started investing more in property at the beginning of 2020 when he purchased the site. Construction commenced shortly after, and plans for restoring the golf course were approved in February 2022. Despite these early steps, the project has faced multiple setbacks, including floods, alleged financial disputes, and changes in planning regulations.
According to recent reports, the rising costs have forced Rashford to consider injecting more money into the property, which he has already invested millions into. His finance team is currently working to address the situation, with sources indicating that construction was halted in the summer due to a dispute. Even after resuming, progress has been slow.
A source told the publication: “Marcus fears the house isn’t ever going to be worth anywhere near what he’s put into it. But he’s between a rock and a hard place as he can’t just stop and leave it. He just wants to get it finished.”
The delays have also led to the 63-acre site becoming overgrown, raising concerns among Rashford’s neighbors. One neighbor, Roy Baker, who has lived on a next-door farm for 42 years, expressed worries about the weeds spreading to his land. He mentioned that a specific plant, ragwort, is poisonous to his horses.
Another nearby farmer shared similar concerns, emphasizing that without proper maintenance, invasive weeds like ragwort, broad-leaf dock, and creeping thistle could take over. “Our concern is that if the land isn’t maintained you end up with these weeds. We’re totally organic and these weeds completely take over,” he said.
Despite the delays, some parts of the property are complete. The exterior and two underground floors were finished last year, but the cost of managing the land alone is estimated at £1 million per year. The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for further comments.
The five-bedroom property includes a nine-hole golf course, with ecological measures planned to enhance biodiversity. These include bat boxes and bird nest boxes, as well as hedgehog-friendly fencing to allow wildlife to move freely between the site and surrounding habitats.
In addition, Rashford signed an agreement to protect Great Crested Newts on the land after they were discovered in a nearby pond. A planting scheme featuring native plants such as hazel and beech has also been submitted.
Plans for the house include an open-plan kitchen, study, and dining room, along with a basement containing an indoor swimming pool, wine cellar, and gym. The first floor will feature the five bedrooms, while a two-storey apartment is under construction as a guesthouse connected to the main house via a passageway.
In October last year, photos of the build showed the exterior completed, though there was minimal interior work underway. Locals reported that the site was often empty, with sporadic construction activity.
Rashford moved to Barcelona on loan in July after being part of Ruben Amorim’s ‘Bomb Squad’ at Manchester United. He was later exiled from the United squad by Amorim in December after failing to perform in training ahead of a Manchester derby. Rashford spent the last six months of the previous season on loan at Aston Villa before joining Barcelona in the summer.
His time in Barcelona hasn’t been without challenges. Shortly after his heroics in Newcastle, he was dropped from the team for turning up late to a meeting and starting on the bench for a LaLiga clash against Getafe. However, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has expressed satisfaction with Rashford’s progress and openness to a permanent deal.
“HE’S ON A SIMPLE LOAN, THERE’S NO PENALTY, AND IF WE WANT HIM, WE HAVE AN OPTION TO BUY,” Deco said. “It’s too early to talk about decisions for next season, but what matters is that we’re happy with him. What we thought he could bring to us, he’s bringing.”
With his impressive start in Catalonia, Rashford hopes to secure a spot in England’s World Cup squad next summer and reestablish himself as a key player on the team’s left wing.