A TIDAL wave of Wayne Rooney-style mansion rebuilds is sweeping over Prestbury - but the fad means "perfectly good" houses are being demolished.

Coun Thelma Jackson has slammed the modern mansion mania, and says she receives at least one complaint a week from residents.

The house pictured, on Macclesfield Road in Prestbury, was bought by a couple who have decided to customise the £1 million property - alterations will include complete demolition and the bill for a plush rebuild will cost the new owners millions more.

Coun Jackson, who lives in a bungalow on Woodford Lane, said: "These rebuilds are an over-the-top, disruptive nightmare destroying the village - they are noisy and the new houses just don't fit in with what is still a semi-rural area.

"And what a waste of perfectly good houses - it's a case of more money than sense."

The rage for rebuilding was sparked off by Manchester Utd striker Wayne Rooney in 2004 when he and girlfriend Coleen McCloughlin bought and bulldozed a 1930s mansion.

A modest £3.5m rebuild, in-keeping with the footballer lifestyle, includes a three-storey mansion with neo-Georgian pillars, six bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and cinema.

Builder and property developer, John Tilly, 41, is currently restoring a listed building on Roe Street, Macclesfield.

He said: "I used to live next door to the Rooney house 20 years ago and it was an excellent example of a 1930s house.

"I don't blame them for wanting a nice house, but they are destroying a bit of heritage - and some of the new houses are horrendous, disgusting - with fake pillars and marble bathrooms.

"It makes me angry to see others tearing down good examples of architecture to make a profit."

The father-of-two, of George Street West, added: "I blame the council, it's a case of money talks.

"People with money want to live in Prestbury to show-off. They've got two kids but want eight rooms - and the council are letting these planning applications through.

"It's something we will regret in the future, we're losing part of our history."

And the plush modern pad is no longer reserved just for the millionaire footballer.

Coun Jackson said: "I know they are the new in-thing, but they are knocking down houses, wrecking the grass verges, and blocking the footpaths.

"And the results are ostentatious, over-the-top buildings, with that and the noise and mess, the whole package is just a nightmare.

"There is no end in sight. There have been five new developments on Heybridge Lane alone in the last year - and this one on Macclesfield Road is just another in a long line.

"I'm speaking for the people and I try to make a difference, but without grounds to refuse planning permission, my hands are tied.

"It's very frustrating, I became a councillor to protect the heritage of the area."

Macclesfield Borough Council imposed a housing moratorium to limit the building of new properties until 2011. But the policy sites replacement dwellings as an exception.

And Hayden Bowen, an architect of Buxton Road, Macclesfield, believes the rebuild boom is not an extravagance - but a reaction to the policy.

"These houses have come about because of the council housing moratorium which has sparked people knocking down old houses to rebuild because they can't build from scratch - and people want to live in a modern environment," he said.

"I'd like to think my houses are reasonable and proportionate - though I have seen some that aren't.

"I work with responsible builders who look after the site and we do not affect the verges."

A council spokesman said: "In terms of the design of replacement dwellings, local planning authorities cannot impose architectural styles or tastes.

"Neither should they stifle innovation, originality or initiative through a requirement to conform to certain development styles or forms.

"Where there is local distinctiveness however, this can be supported. Many houses built in the borough during the last century do not have such local distinctiveness.

"Their replacement by different modern styles, using a combination of new and traditional materials and affording internal layouts which people want, is in the right location to be welcomed.

"Some parts of the borough are subject to more pressure than others for the replacement of dwellings and some villages including Prestbury and Mottram St Andrew have seen particular increases.

"The borough council is aware of this trend and the issue will be considered as part of the current planning policy review work.

"In addition, the council has been working with a number of parishes including Prestbury to produce local design statements which will identify local distinctiveness."