A WORLD famous rock legend has applied to make improvements at his multi-million pound New Forest estate.

Dire Straits front man Mark Knopfler wants to build a garage in the grounds of his property at Thorns Beach.

The guitar player and vocalist, 58, totally rebuilt the secluded waterfront mansion after he bought it in the late 1990s. He will be hoping for a smoother ride when New Forest National Park Authority weighs up his latest project.

In 2003 the globally recognised star locked horns with planners over a scheme to convert his loft into a nursery for his then new-born child.

Civic bosses believed the alterations he was proposing would contravene previous planning conditions placed on the 10,000 sq ft property to stop it getting too big.

This time, the musician is planning to construct a garage and log storage area out of natural materials. Planners say the building would be placed near a cottage on the estate.

A design statement, submitted to New Forest National Park Authority, said: "The garage would be of oak frame construction with soft wood cladding. The roof would be cedar shingles, the whole concept being to use natural materials to blend within the visual setting."

Knopfler, who is famous for hits including Money for Nothing and Sultans of Swing, was estimated to be worth around £70m when the Sunday Times rich list was released earlier this year.