Alan Titchmarsh has insisted his decision to sell his £4 million Grade II-listed Georgian home in Holybourne, Hampshire, is unrelated to plans for 160 new homes on nearby land. The celebrity gardener, 76, cited his age and the challenge of maintaining the four-acre garden as the reason for downsizing.
The property, Manor Farm House, was listed for £3.95 million in September. Titchmarsh and his wife Alison have lived there since 2002. The house dates from 1690 and features extensive renovations, including a manicured garden with a water feature.
Developer Redbrown submitted plans to East Hampshire District Council in July for a housing estate on 15.6 hectares of agricultural fields directly behind Titchmarsh's home. The proposals are under consideration, with Alton Town Council objecting that the development would make the village a third larger and 'change the nature of Holybourne from a rural village to a suburb of Alton'.
Local residents have raised concerns about increased traffic, loss of green space, and flooding risks. One villager, Theresa, suggested the plans might have influenced Titchmarsh's move, saying 'anything like that is going to make you think'. However, Titchmarsh maintains his decision is purely about garden upkeep at age 76.
Redbrown describes itself as a 'well-established farming and property business' and says the scheme would provide a 'sensitively designed sustainable extension' to Holybourne, with homes for families, first-time buyers, and older residents. The proposals have drawn dozens of objections alongside some letters of support.
