Councillors refused planning permission for footballer Gary Neville to build his dream family home of an eco-friendly underground bunker.
The Manchester United defender had hoped to construct the zero carbon, futuristic four-bedroom property on moorland between Bolton and Bury.
It was branded a "Teletubbies house" for its innovative petal-shaped design with the kitchen as the centrepiece and offshoots in the shape of a flower containing bedrooms, bathrooms, a garage, a children's play area and a swimming pool.
The planned site on greenbelt land off Harry Fold Farm in Bradshaw Road, Bolton, provoked vociferous opposition from local campaign groups.
Planners from Bolton Council recommended its approval - subject to Government backing - because of "its exceptionally high quality of design" and "sensitive relationship with the surrounding landscape and its neighbouring residents".
However, planning committee members ignored the report's advice and voted 14-6 to refuse the application.
Accompanied by his wife Emma, Mr Neville gave a short speech at the meeting at Bolton Town Hall in support of his plans.
The 35-year-old said he was still as passionate about the plans as he was when he set out on his "journey" 18 months ago to build a unique home for his family.
He said: "One of the crucial things we did was to open plans up to independent scrutiny at the highest level.
"While the scheme has been faced with some objections, there's no doubt about it and I have privately met with residents, houses are supposed to move towards generating their own energy by 2016 and we will all have to go on that journey.
"I believe there is an opportunity to create an important moment in Bolton.
"Schemes likes this will inspire."
He said he hoped his proposal would become the first of its kind in the town and the North West to be considered groundbreaking enough to allow for an isolated house to be built in the countryside.
He said his advisers had agreed an accompanying 39-metre high wind turbine was the only method in which to meet the government's commitment to ensure all new homes were zero carbon by 2016.
Mr Neville said: "I do not know how we are going to do that without creating turbines."
In opposition, Mike Dutton told the committee that local residents had taken their own expert advice which told them the planned property could not be classed as a zero carbon home and that its environmental attributes had been "exaggerated".
The proposal must also be rejected because the turbine would breach accepted noise levels, the greenbelt must be protected and there were safety fears about access, he said.