A BID for extra privacy by Liverpool and England star Michael Owen at his £1.6m mansion in North Wales is likely to be thrown out by local councillors.

The millionaire striker wants to build a triple garage and enclosed courtyard at Lower Soughton Hall, in Northop, with a games room on the first floor.

The garage, measuring about 45ft by 20ft, would house his top of the range Range Rover and Jaguar sports car, both black with tinted windows.

But planning officials believe the garage and courtyard - designed to give extra privacy - are unacceptable in scale and design.

They are concerned about its effect on the Hall and its landscaped setting, which is protected as a Grade II listed building.

The application goes before Flintshire planning committee on January 7 with a recommendation it be refused.

Owen is already having extensive improvements carried out at the magnificent manor house where he lives with his partner Louise Bonsall and their baby daughter Gemma Rose.

The two storey garage would be built between the hall and a detached cottage known as Brookside. It would be connected to Brookside by a 12ft wide covered corridor about 6ft 6ins tall, with entrance gates, to "fully enclose and screen the proposed parking court".

The report to councillors says: "The main land use issue concerns the impact of the development on the architectural and historic interest of Lower Soughton Hall, which is a grade two listed building.

"The council's conservation officer has expressed serious reservations about the siting, scale and design of the proposals and although the original plans have been amended, fundamental concerns still remain that the development will have an unacceptable adverse effect on the character and appearance of the existing property."

Although officially a Victorian country house, Lower Soughton Hall is believed to be Elizabethan in origin, extensively rebuilt in 1865-66. Planners are quick to point out that they have, up until now, looked favourably on improvements wanted by Michael Owen.

"Unfortunately this latest proposal, in the opinion of officers, will seriously compromise the attractive open character of the hall."

But local councillor Tony Sharps intends to speak at the committee in favour of the development.

He said: "Michael Owen just wants somewhere to keep his vehicles under cover and that would be better than having them parked in front of the hall.

"I think the planning officer is wrong in this case," said Coun Sharps.