A FUTURISTIC underground car garage being debated by councillors is owned by a dot com multi millionaire.

Duncan Cameron, the co-founder of Money Supermarket, is behind the scheme for the garage to store his private collection of vehicles.

Despite the land being described as green belt, Warrington Borough Council has recommended the facility can be built as it will increase biodiversity in the area as ponds, grasses and ditches will also be added.

Councillors will meet tonight, Wednesday, to decide if permission should be granted.

The circular shaped building would stretch 48 metres in diameter and house 68 vehicles, some underground while some will be visible above ground.

It would be accessed by a 92m long ramp which would extend to the hard standing of the former runway at Stretton Airfield used during the Second World War but which is now partially the M56.

This is the a scaled down version of a previously approved application in 2018 which also included a house.

Planning documents state: "While the visible eastern and southern elevations of the building would be faced with brick, the roof of the building and slopes of the bund would be grassed.

"The scheme would also include a landscaping plan to this segment of the airfield, which would involve the planting of native grasslands, hedgerows and trees, the formation of ditches and a pond.

"The new hedgerows and grasslands would provide a suitable habitat for birds and bats, and the pond would provide additional foraging potential for bird species as well as a habitat for reptiles and amphibians."

Appleton Parish Council has objected to the plans on the basis it is inappropriate in the green belt. Ward councillor Ryan Bate has also asked for the development management committee to rule on it.

While four letters from nearby residents objected with fears over traffic, the possibility of events being staged there in future and further development among their concerns.

However planning officers have recommended the scheme be approved.

They say the addition of landscaping will increase biodiversity and constitutes exceptional reasons for allowing green belt development.

The application will be considered at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday at 6.30pm