Boris Johnson has gained his battle for a luxurious revamp on his £4million nation mansion that may see him demolish the Downton Abbey-style servants’ quarters
The former PM, 59, needs to modernise his Grade II listed manor home in Oxfordshire for the “democratic age where families no longer rely on live-in staff”.
He plans to knock down and rebuild a single storey extension initially constructed for servants, to make manner for a brand new scullery, laundry, larder, breakfast room and a bigger boot room. But he needed to get permission from officers on the native council as his stately pile is a listed constructing and lies in a delegated conservation space with stricter planning legal guidelines.
A neighbour additionally claimed proposed new entrance gates have been “out of keeping” with the 400-year-old home which Mr Johnson shares with spouse Carrie, 35, and their three younger kids. As effectively because the alternative of the servant quarters, the proposals embody minor alterations to an 18th Century Georgian wing, to make manner for a brand new Master Suite full with a dressing room, and an even bigger household toilet.
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Geoffrey Swaine/REX/Shutterstock)
The former Tory MP additionally needs an prolonged patio and new electrical gated entrance to spice up safety and to cease his kids working out into the highway. In a design assertion, his planning agent stated: “Since there are very young children, there is the requirement for the access to the property to become more secure.”
But in a letter to the council, one neighbour wrote: “Whilst I do not think the proposed gates are in keeping with the attractive facade of [the house], they are no worse than some existing examples in the village. My concern is that they will deter tradesmen and visitors from entering the property, leading to even more parking around the war memorial and outside the village hall. Reinstating the previous ‘no parking’ markings will lessen this nuisance as would better signposting of the underused hall car park.”
Mr Johnson, who was ousted from No10 in 2022, was beforehand granted planning permission for an 11x4m out of doors swimming pool regardless of fears for newts – a protected species. The ex-PM beforehand pledged to “do whatever it takes” to guard the newts, together with constructing “newt motels” if essential.
Officials at South Oxfordshire District Council gave the inexperienced gentle for his newest plans after there have been no objections from conservationists. Planning officer Kim Gould stated: “Planning permission is granted because the proposed development will not result in harm to the setting of the listed building or a significant adverse impact on neighbour amenity. The proposed works safeguards the historic and architectural interest and setting of the Grade II listed building.”