Pop star Geri Halliwell and her husband, Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner, have lodged a second planning application in a bid to retain an oak-framed pergola built without permission at their historic Oxfordshire home. This comes after their initial retrospective application was formally refused by the local authority following numerous complaints from neighbours.
A History of Neighbourly Disputes
The couple's various building projects at their Grade II listed property have been a source of friction for years. Their latest attempt focuses solely on the pergola, after a previous bid to gain approval for both the pergola and a separate gazebo was turned down by West Northamptonshire Council. It remains unclear if the gazebo has been or will be removed.
Their new application, which notably does not reference the earlier refusal, states they have received pre-application advice from planners, suggesting a degree of confidence. To address earlier concerns, they claim to have added "climbing and structural planting" around the structure to "soften the appearance" and reduce its visual impact on the area.
Why the First Application Was Rejected
The original refusal, issued by planning official Forrest Childs, was unequivocal. He stated that the unauthorised developments had spoiled the view "to and from" a neighbouring Grade I listed church. The structures were deemed to lie within the sensitive setting of both the couple's listed house and the historic church.
In his report, Mr Childs wrote: "The Conservation Officer has raised concerns over the scale, appearance and positioning of the pergola... it detracts from views of the church and therefore impacts its setting." He concluded that the pergola and gazebo represented an "unsympathetic addition" due to their size, positioning, and appearance.
Neighbour and Heritage Objections
The council's decision was backed by strong local opposition and expert conservation advice. Several neighbours submitted formal objections, with one questioning how a "30 foot long pergola was missed" during other inspections. Another lamented the transformation of a "beautiful quaint property" in the conservation area.
The council's own heritage team strongly objected, noting the pergola's harmful impact on the church's setting. They also highlighted another unauthorised development: a red brick pizza oven with a flue visible over the boundary wall, which they said cumulatively added to the harm.
The couple's design statement argues the "freestanding and lightweight" oak structure is traditional and subordinate to the main house. However, with enforcement action still a possibility if the new application fails, the planning battle over their garden vista is set to continue.
