Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi face council battle for all-weather area to coach horses all yr spherical at their flood-hit £22m Cotswolds residence
Ellen DeGeneres faces a council battle to allow her horses to train all year round at her flood-hit Cotswolds home with a proposed ‘all weather riding arena’ – which would be built close to Roman ruins.
The former chat show host and her partner Portia De Rossi, who has a passion for horses, have submitted plans to build the arena as their horses often can’t use the site during the winter due to flooding from a river that runs through it.
The pair recently revealed their intention to stay ‘long-term’ at the estate, which they bought for £15million in 2024 and spent a reported £7.5m on external and internal renovations.
But they moved out after less than a month in the hope of finding somewhere more suitable to indulge in Portia’s hobby.
It was thought they would sell the home when it was listed last July but it failed to attract a buyer and was plagued by flooding from the River Windrush, that ran through the 43-acre site.
Planning documents submitted last month for new stables revealed they now have ambitions to make it their ‘long term home’ if planning approval is successful – despite fears they could destroy Roman remains.
But a new application has now been made by the couple to build an all-weather arena outside of the flood zone for their horses to be able to stay on site.
Both applications are still under consideration by West Oxfordshire District Council.
Ellen Degeneres and her partner Portia De Rossi face a council battle over approval of a new all-weather horse arena at their £22m Cotswolds home
An example of what the arena will look like, which was submitted with the planning application
A map showing the siting of the new horse area on the 43-acre site in the Cotswolds
Ellen’s representatives said of the arena plan: ‘The applicant’s horses are on site in temporary accommodation formed in the garaging in an existing barn pending the determination of (the stables application)
‘In order to provide a suitable flat all-weather arena for exercising the horses this application has been made.
‘The surrounding land does have some flat areas where the horses can be exercised in summer months – but it is also adjacent to the River Windrush, so for the winter and other wet times the opportunities for exercise are more limited.
‘The choices then are daily movements to and from the site to exercise elsewhere – or to provide a modest facility on site.
‘The chosen location would be immediately adjacent to the stables building to the rear of the property where it would be seen in the context of the existing undulating topography and the backdrop of the existing buildings – in the fullness of time the proposed new stable building.’
Her representatives said the surrounding land is used to graze horses or farmed by others and there was no need for their own agricultural building for storage.
They added: ‘They are however horse owners and do require stabling for their horses.
‘This is the subject of a separate application which seeks to replace a modern farm building with a more vernacular structure that is more in keeping with the character of the remaining buildings on the land.
‘The provision of new facilities for horses in the countryside accords fully with the locational policies within the development plan.’
The application was also accompanied by flooding photographs taken from April 2023 that they said ‘show how the lower-lying fields in the vicinity of the site do not provide suitable opportunities for exercising horses at certain times of the year.
They added: ‘The chosen location is well related to the stables building, is outside of the flood zone and uses an area where there is an existing undulating landform into which the new riding arena can be provided with the minimal amount of cut and fill.
‘The works have been carefully designed to ensure that all soil moved can be used within the site to preclude any soil having to be taken away from the site along the local road network.’
The application to West Oxfordshire District Council came with a plea to grant permission ‘without delay.’
The representatives added: ‘There are no nearby neighbours and thus no impact on residential amenity that would result from the provision of stabling. Suitable areas for the storage of much have been identified.
‘The proposals therefore accord with the development plan and would not cause demonstrable harm to any interests of acknowledged importance.
‘We trust Officers will support the application and that planning permission will be granted without delay.’
Planning documents submitted last month for new stables revealed the couple have ambitions to make the estate their ‘long term home’. Pictured: Flooding at the estate
The proposed siting of the new arena, which would allow the horses to be kept away from land that has been plagued by flooding from the River Windrush, which runs through the site
An artist’s drawing of the arena, which has been submitted with the planning application
The latest application comes after they faced issues around the stables plan with the proposal site said to lie in an area of archaeological interest and potential Roman remains.
Documents showed the site was close to a Roman bridge, a Roman road, and Roman villa and associated bathhouse.
The report from West Oxfordshire District Council archaeological team stated: ‘Historic maps and aerial photographs suggest that the area of the proposed stable building has not seen previous development as part of the farm, and so, it is possible that Roman remains survive on the site.
‘We would, therefore, recommend that, should planning permission be granted, the applicant should be responsible for ensuring the implementation of an archaeological monitoring and recording action (watching brief) to be maintained during the period of construction.’
The report added: ‘In the area between [the estate] and the villa, the HER records a number of findspots, including Mesolithic – Neolithic flint flakes, a Roman quern and a Roman coin dating from the mid-3rd century.
‘An undated enclosure and trackway have been recorded as crop marks in aerial photographs also within this area.’
The council archaeological team told the couple they would be responsible for organising and implementing an archaeological watching brief, to be maintained during the period of construction/during any groundworks taking place on the site.
A further condition was recommended that no development should start without the appointed archaeologist being present.
In a design and access statement to support their application to West Oxfordshire District Council, their representatives also previously revealed the couple’s long term ambitions for the home.
They said: ‘The applicants carried out a successful renovation of the house last year and wish to make this their long term home.’
Ellen has previously spoken about the need for a home with a horse facility and said in a previous statement: ‘When we decided to live here full time, we knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses.
‘We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.’
Both applications will be determined by West Oxfordshire District Council at a later date.
