A FAMILY are building their dream house by renovating a Premier League star's derelict £3m mansion.
Steve Leonard, 47, wife Tina, 46, and daughter Caitlin, 21, are transforming the former Liverpool and Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant's pad.
The five-bedroom once-luxurious home, in Cheshire, was said to have been taken over by drug dealers and turned into a cannabis factory in recent years.
Shortly after it was subject to two fires and suffered intense damages.
Part of the roof is caving in following the blaze and Steve says the garden hasn't been properly done in a decade.
However, that didn't stop him from buying it for £570,000 at auction.
READ MORE ON SPORT
Kyle Walker at centre of WAG feud as mothers of his kids clash online
Downcast Conor McGregor signs autographs in NYC days after sex attack claims
Admitting it was something he had wanted to do for "years and years", the dad-of-one jumped at the opportunity.
Now as a family they're returning the property, called Tileacres, back to its former glory by spending 14 hours each day working on it.
Steve told the MailOnline: "I have been here 20 years and it's always been fascinating this house, the potential.
"[There's] no chance I'm selling it.
Most read in Sport
Kyle Walker at centre of WAG feud as mothers of his kids clash online
Ange Postecoglou's first signing as Tottenham manager announced
My flat looks into a former Premier League stadium – you don't need a ticket
Liverpool icon comes out of retirement aged 42 and SCORES on debut for new club
"My worry was that a developer would flatten everything and put up two glass boxes.
"The house is in safe hands. This will be a palace when I'm finished with it. This will be our dream house.
"Getting through the front gate was the biggest challenge! It's been overgrown for 10 years."
The Leonards are documenting their journey on TikTok for hundreds of followers to see.
The home, which has just under three acres of land, a pool and a tennis court, now needs to be completed in just 12 weeks.
Estimating to spend around £400,000 on the renovations, Steve would still have spent less than the millions it was once sold for.
The property was bought by retired football Pennant in 2006 when he joined Liverpool.
He then rented the home for almost 10 years as his career took him all over the world before he finally retired in 2017.
No one has permanently lived their since 2020 when the ex-footballer split with his then-partner.
Read more on The Sun
I work on a cruise ship, the four easiest jobs if you want to travel for free
Home Bargains shoppers rush to buy summer essential that’s selling for £20
The cannabis factory was discovered last year.
The scale of the cannabis farm was revealed on social media by an urban explorer who filmed himself wandering around.
Source: Read Full Article
