FRIDGE tycoon Willie Haughey's dreams of building 'Scotland's finest home' have been thrown out after the government rejected his ambitious plans.

The former Celtic director - one of Scotland's richest men - wanted to build a massive mansion with views of his beloved Celtic Park on the 11-acre site.

Multi-millionaire businessman Haughey, 52, had been given the go-ahead for the development at Greenleeshill Farm, which sits on land separating Cambuslang and East Kilbride in Lanarkshire.

Mr Haughey said the design for the mansion was inspired by old American colonial homes and that he wanted to build 'the finest home in Scotland'.

It was to include six bedrooms, three lounges, four bathrooms, a games room and a swimming pool.

Haughey keeps a framed print of the plans hanging in the office of his City Refrigeration HQ in Glasgow.

South Lanarkshire Council planning officers had recommended Haughey's plans be given the green light in December last year.

But the application was referred to the Scottish Government due to its being situated on greenbelt land.

Now his vision for the 28,000sq ft property has been scuppered after the proposals were given the red card because of its location.

Last night the business magnate called the decision 'incredible' and claimed he would have been better asking US businessman Donald Trump to apply in his name.

He said: "I'm bitterly disappointed, I wasn't expecting to get a refusal. There were no objections from locals or environmental groups.

"The only people to raise objections were an SNP councillor, and a Tory councillor.

"Maybe I should get Donald Trump to apply for me. It seems incredible that my proposal received almost no local objections but Trump's, which certainly received all sorts of objections, is allowed.

"Donald Trump's plans received all kinds of opposition from local people and environmental groups but was granted by the Scottish Government.

"My application barely received any local objections but was rejected by the Scottish Government.

"I'm not saying I'm against Donald Trump's plans, I'm all for it.

"But what does this say? Scotland is only open for business if you're not Scottish?

"People argued that Trump's development will create lots of jobs, but I've created over 9,000 jobs in Scotland, invested millions in the region and grassroots football.

"All I was trying to do is build an iconic home that Scotland could be proud of for 100 years to come."

Last night a Scottish Government spokesman confirmed that Mr Haughey's application had been rejected.

He said: "The application was called in for determination by Ministers in February 2008 due to the proposed development's possible implications for policies in the East Kilbride Local Plan and Scottish planning policies relating to housing, green belts and rural development.

"In line with the Reporter's recommendation, Ministers refused consent as the proposal does not conform to the development plan or national policies relating to the protection of the green belt and there is no justification to override the provisions of either."

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman added: "The planning application was approved by the council’s planning committee on 4 December, 2007.

"However the application required to be referred to the Scottish Government as it constituted development in the greenbelt which was contrary to the Development Plan.

"The application was subsequently 'called in' for the Scottish Ministers to determine. Scottish Ministers have now refused planning permission."

Mr Haughey added: "It just leaves a really bitter taste especially when I've done so much to invest in the region and all I want to do is build a nice home for myself.

"I don't know where to go from here."

The objection of his plans come just 48 hours after Donald Trump's highly controversial £1bn golf resort in Aberdeenshire was approved by ministers.

The plan was called in by the Scottish Government after it was rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee.

Finance Secretary John Swinney then backed it after a public local inquiry. He said the Trump Organisation would need to make sure sand dunes and wildlife on the estate at Menie were properly protected.