Peter Lovenkrands has complained that the proposal near his five-bedroom property would ruin his family’s privacy and spoil the view, The Times reports.

The retired player, who is a reserve team coach at Rangers, lives in a £1.3 million property in the village of Thorntonhall, Lanarkshire.

He objected to South Lanarkshire Council after Thomas Swanson submitted plans for a four-bedroom house on land next to his. Lovenkrands, 39, who lives with his wife, Teresa, and their two daughters, added that road closures caused by building work could affect the family school run.

In a letter to planners, the couple said: “Our family home is directly in front of the new proposed house. This will mean it will look directly onto our living area and bedrooms and into the most used part of our home and a complete loss of our privacy.

“The road outside our house is a very narrow one with two larger cars struggling to pass each other at the best of times. How would this work with lorries and diggers? We have two young children so building work and any affected road closures in such close proximity is a major concern given this is the only route we use for work and school every day.”

Planning officials are due to make a decision in the coming weeks. Two other neighbours have objected.

A statement to the council by Mr Swanson’s architects said the proposed house had been “carefully designed in such a way that would not overlook any of the neighbouring properties”. It said the proposed one-and-a-half storey dwelling “aims to enhance the character of the area whilst being sympathetic to the surrounding adjacent buildings”.