A professional footballer’s plan to build a luxury home near his family in Talybont to use as an off-season training base has been recommended for refusal by council planners but is set to be decided at next month’s development control committee.

Rhys Norrington-Davies’ application had been due for decision at committee on Wednesday, 28 July but Ceredigion councillors voted to defer their decision to allow for further discussion with his planning agent.

The application seeks to demolish existing stables and build a 306 square metre house with two fitness rooms and plunge pool, on land at Tyn y Cae.

The application is recommended for refusal by Ceredigion Council planning officers as the “proposed development represents an unsustainable form of housing development”.

There was support for the plan from some councillors, as it would allow Mr Norrington-Davies – who plays for Sheffield United and the Wales national team – to return to his home area while allowing him to train to “elite level”,

It was also noted that although contrary to planning policy regarding open market dwellings in open countryside, it was “not considered to have a significant and adverse impact on the landscape”.

The planning statement submitted in support of the application notes “the proposal is not materially larger than the existing stables”and “is of high quality design”, but planners said there “is no justification for an open market dwelling in this open countryside location and therefore the proposal fails on policy grounds”.