Ewan McGregor wins planning battle because the Star Wars actor bids to renovate lodge at his £2million 18th Century Scottish mansion
Ewan McGregor has won planning permission to renovate his £2million 18th century Scottish mansion.
The Star Wars actor submitted an application to revamp the building at his Carse of Gowrie property in Perthshire after he moved back to the country earlier this year.
McGregor, 53, applied to refurbish windows of the B-listed gate lodge as well as to install new double glazing units.
He also applied to remove existing PVC windows and replace them with new timber sash windows.
Perth and Kinross Council have approved the changes after studying the plans.
A report said: ‘Glencarse Lodge is a single-storey detached dwelling at the western gate entrance to Glencarse House.
‘The lodge has attractive, Italianate detailing including an arched porch and corbelled window architraves with statue niches.
‘Listed building consent is sought to refurbish the existing windows, including replacing the glass with slim cavity double glazing, timber repairs, re-weighting, ironmongery replacement and draught stripping.
Ewan McGregor and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The couple moved back to McGregor’s native Scotland after the actor said he ‘missed the smell of the rain’
The huge mansion is set in 18 acres of land and cost the actor more than £2million
The actor purchased an 18th century country retreat in Perthshire set in more than 18 acres of land and gardens. The property is in the Carse of Gowrie and just a 35-minute drive from Crieff where McGregor grew up (A Roman bridge in Perthshire, pictured)
‘Existing uPVC units are to be replaced with timber units to match the existing timber windows.’
The council said the work should be completed within three years.
They added: ‘The proposal has due regard to the special interest of the listed building and it complies with the development plan.’
The Trainspotting star has spent most of 2024 renovating his new home – which is just a 35-minute drive from Crieff where he grew up.
McGregor had earlier been given approval for work to repair ‘yellowing’ and ‘water-damage’ to his mansion.
Perth and Kinross Council previously gave McGregor permission to erect a replacement garage.
He also wanted to extend the master bedroom to make space for a dressing room.
Property records show that the actor purchased the 18th century country retreat – which is set in more than 18 acres of land and gardens – last May for £2.35million.
McGregor previously said he felt a ‘tug’ to return to Scotland.
He said: ‘I’ve lived in Scotland for less time than I’ve lived away from it, but I’ve never lost my love for it.’
The actor pictured with his daughter Clara McGregor from his first marriage to Eve Mavrakis. The 28-year-old is also an actress and producer
The 53-year-old actor has recently starred as Count Rostov in A Gentleman in Moscow, alongside his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Anna Urbanova
The actor also spoke about how much he misses Scotland an interview at Comic Con exhibition in Edinburgh last year.
He said: ‘What I miss the most about Scotland, is of course my family. My mum and dad and my brother (Colin) and his wife Sarah and my nephew and my niece…
‘I miss the landscape. I miss the air in Scotland. I miss the smell of the rain, the smell of the green and the colours of Scotland. And the people and the culture. I could just keep going on and on.’
McGregor left Scotland in his late teens to move to London to pursue his acting ambitions. He later moved to the US after his Hollywood career took off.
It is understood that McGregor is splitting his time between Scotland and LA with his fellow actor wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead who he married in April 2022.
Glencarse is set to feature in a new TV show that will see McGregor embarking on a motorbike ride to England via Scandinavia for Apple TV+.
Travelling with friend Charley Boorman, it will mark two decades since the pair first filmed together.
