Former Spice Girl Geri Horner and her Formula 1 team principal husband Christian have been ordered to tear down their luxury garden structures after losing a bitter planning battle with local authorities.
Countryside Clash Over Historic Views
The Horners' dream of creating an idyllic outdoor entertaining space at their £4 million Oxfordshire mansion has turned into a nightmare after council officials ruled their elaborate pergola and gazebo have "harmfully impacted" the setting of a nearby 13th-century church.
The couple had installed the substantial timber structures without proper planning permission, believing they fell under permitted development rights. However, South Oxfordshire District Council took a very different view when the constructions became visible from St Mary the Virgin Church in Great Milton.
Historic England Intervention
Historic England strongly objected to the developments, stating they caused "considerable harm" to the Grade I listed church's surroundings. The heritage organisation emphasised that the medieval church's setting is "highly sensitive to change" and that the modern structures created an "unacceptable visual intrusion."
Local conservation officers echoed these concerns, noting that the pergola and gazebo appeared "alien and incongruous" within the traditional rural landscape that has surrounded the historic church for centuries.
Last-Minute Appeal Fails
Despite submitting a retrospective planning application and making desperate last-ditch attempts to save their garden features, the Horners saw their appeal rejected by the government's Planning Inspectorate. The inspector concluded that the structures "failed to preserve the special interest of the listed building" and must be removed entirely.
The ruling means the couple now face the costly and embarrassing task of dismantling their garden additions, which were intended to create a private oasis at their country retreat where they raise their young son.
Celebrity Planning Woes Continue
This isn't the first time the Horners have faced planning controversies at their Oxfordshire property. The power couple, who married in 2015, have previously encountered objections from neighbours and conservation groups over various improvements to their estate.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between wealthy homeowners seeking to enhance their properties and planning authorities determined to protect Britain's architectural heritage and countryside character.
For now, the Horners must comply with the demolition order, bringing their garden ambitions back down to earth and serving as a cautionary tale for other homeowners in protected areas.
