Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews have been ordered to tear up an "unsightly" car park at their £15 million Berkshire estate after their appeal was thrown out. The Princess of Wales's younger sister, 42, and her hedge fund manager husband, 50, built the six-space car park on an open meadow without planning permission, sparking local outrage.
Planning appeal rejected
West Berkshire Council and a planning inspectorate have officially rejected the couple's retrospective application. Planners ruled that the unauthorised hardstanding ruins the natural beauty of the area, describing it as an "urbanised and visually intrusive feature" in the countryside. The development sits on the Wessex Downs, an area protected by strict landscape preservation rules.
Disgruntled locals in the village of Kintbury slammed the couple for attempting to move cars out of their own line of sight while ruining the landscape for everyone else. Angry residents filed formal objections, citing major concerns about the development.
Residents' concerns
Locals accused the pair of eroding the area's rural character by ruining the historic entrance to Kintbury with hardstanding on agricultural land. Serious flood hazards were also raised, with residents warning that increased surface runoff would worsen local flooding on nearby Station Road and adversely affect the River Kennet. Planners highlighted safety and traffic issues, noting that vehicles leaving the site had limited visibility and posed potential road hazards.
Pippa and James, who bought the grand 30-room Barton Court estate in 2022, claimed through their planners that the parking area was needed seasonally for local anglers who lost access to a nearby station car park. However, planning inspectors were unsympathetic and dismissed the appeal, forcing the couple to dig up the land and restore the meadow.
Second clash with locals
This marks the second major clash with locals for the couple, following an ongoing row over their decision to lock electric gates and block public access to a popular footpath through their grounds. The row centres on Mill Lane, a path through their estate that locals used for decades under the previous owner, Sir Terence Conran. Shortly after moving in, the couple installed electric gates and "No Trespassing" signs.
In response, 35 residents backed by the Ramblers Association petitioned to make it an official public right of way, prompting Mr Matthews to attend a heated village hall inquiry to argue that his family's security and privacy must come first. After the council agreed to make the lane a public right of way, the couple challenged the ruling and triggered an official public inquiry.
