Self-made billionaire brothers start building work on five identical 'super-size McMansions' in sleepy village despite fierce opposition from locals

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Two self-made billionaire brothers have embarked on controversial building work to create five identical 'super-sized' homes which have been described as 'objectionable' and 'monstrous'.

Mohsin and Zuber Issa, both in their 40s, who own Europe's biggest independent forecourt firm Euro Garages, will proceed with their buildings, which have been dubbed 'McMansions', after overcoming a string of complaints from protesters. 

Despite the fierce opposition, which saw the council face 30 letters of complaint, eight old houses on the site in Blackburn, Lancashire, have now been demolished and builders have laid foundations for the five 5,000 sq ft mansions. 

Plans for the large houses, which are located on a quiet rural road outside Blackburn where houses sell for up to £1 million, were lodged in April 2018.   

The enormous properties, which have been dubbed 'McMansions', will be built in Blackburn, Lancashire

Brothers Zuber (left) and Mohsin Issa (right) embarked on controversial building work after they were given the green light in September last year

The brothers, who own Europe's biggest independent forecourt firm Euro Garages, demolished eight homes on the site to carry out their work

Nowadays the entrepreneurial pair, who have an estimated worth of more than £1billion, oversee Euro Garages, which is the EU's largest independent fuel retailer with annual sales of £5bn.

Their Blackburn building plans, which were approved in September last year, were met with fierce opposition by local residents, who said the enormous houses would ruin the character of the area.

Protesters at an earlier planning application meeting claimed the plans fell foul of the council's local plan, as well as the government's national planning policy framework.

The identical builds, which sit just three miles from where the Issa brothers grew up in a two-up two-down terraced house, have been described as 'not in fitting with the local area' as the homes stand over over 4.5 metres taller with 1,500 square metres of floor space.

Speaking last year, local resident of 50 years Ian Woolley, said the mansions were 'objectionable' and 'monstrous'.

He said: 'They will look monstrously big - this is totally out of character, as all the other executive houses in this area are individually architect-designed and are laid out with plenty of valuable mature garden space between them.

'The plans submitted look like a long, monotonous row of houses squeezed together.'

The five new homes will stand over over 4.5 metres taller that the old homes with 1,500 square metres of floor space

Building work has now began at the Blackburn site despite after plans for the homes were approved in September last year

The five properties have faced fierce opposition from nearby residents who feared the development could ruin the character of the area

Pictured: The homes on Billinge End Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, that was demolished in order to make way for the new houses

Despite the resistance eight old houses at the site, on Billinge End Road, have been demolished and the foundations for the five new houses have been laid.

Speaking against the proposals at a meeting of the council's planning and highways committee, Mr Woolley said: 'The council has received 30 letters of complaint - none in favour.'

He also raised concerns about the felling of more than 50 trees to make way for the homes, plans for which were first revealed in May last year.

A statement submitted as part of the planning application read: 'The existing dwellings are all early 20th century with no distinguished architectural merit in varying styles.'

The Blackburn-born Issa brothers are among the richest families in the UK and own petrol stations and convenience stores across the world.

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Despite the council being faced with 30 letters of complaint, the new buildings were given the green light. Pictured: The eight homes which were destroyed (left in red) and the new mansions which will be built (right in green)

The brothers purchased a lavish £25million mansion in Knightsbridge, London, in 2017

Their first venture was buying a petrol forecourt in Bury for £150,000 in 2001 before rapidly expanding across East Lancashire and the UK under the name Euro Garages and building it to become the EU's largest independent fuel retailer. 

In 2017, the pair purchased a £25million mansion in Knightsbridge, which estate agents said could be worth £80million when planned renovations are carried out according to estate agents.  

Their Grade II listed Georgian house is also at the centre of a long-running planning row. 

The previous owner began digging a basement and left a vast 30ft-deep crater the size of two tennis courts, described by horrified neighbours to 'Hitler's bunker'.

When finished the luxury 22,000 sq ft home will have a huge underground car park, a swimming pool, spa, and cinema.

MailOnline has contacted Mohsin and Zuber Issa for comment.