Craig Revel Horwood, the renowned Strictly Come Dancing judge, has secured planning approval to construct a lavish party terrace at his £2 million country mansion in Northamptonshire. This decision comes despite vocal objections from neighbours who fear that his 'noisy' garden gatherings will disrupt the peace of their sleepy village.
Neighbourhood Backlash Over Entertainment Plans
The Australian-born dancer, 61, sparked controversy when he unveiled ambitious plans to raise his back garden and create an extensive 'entertainment area'. This new space is set to include a swim spa, hot tub, and recreational facilities at his seven-bedroom riverside home in King's Cliffe.
One resident lodged a formal complaint with North Northamptonshire Council, expressing concerns about existing noise levels from Horwood's garden parties. In their letter, they stated: 'There is already excessive noise heard from their garden when they regularly entertain. The shape of the land with the trees along the river means residents can easily hear talking and noise from their gardens around the pool area.'
Council Overrules Noise Concerns
Despite these protests, planners at North Northamptonshire Council have this month waved through the scheme. They ruled that the development would not cause 'unacceptable harm to neighbours' and would actually 'improve biodiversity overall'.
The council concluded that the terrace revamp would sit comfortably within the existing setting and would not result in any loss of privacy to neighbouring homes. This decision allows Horwood, who lives with his partner Jonathan Myring, 39, to proceed with his ambitious garden transformation at their 160-year-old rural property.
Comprehensive Garden Transformation
The approved plans include several significant changes to the property's outdoor spaces:
- Raising the back garden to create an elevated entertainment terrace
- Installing a new gravel driveway despite flood zone concerns
- Demolishing an existing garage and converting the area into a meadow
- Creating a new recreational area with swim spa and hot tub facilities
Horwood's sprawling home sits on 2.2 acres of land featuring a lake and pond, located within a conservation area in the historic village of King's Cliffe. The TV personality purchased the property for £1.8 million in 2021, and it's now valued at approximately £2 million following extensive renovation works.
Previous Renovations and Future Plans
This latest approval follows previous planning permissions for major upgrades to the mansion, including:
- A larger entrance hall and master bedroom suite
- A dedicated gym and butler's kitchen
- Wine storage facilities and a cosy snug area
Speaking about his renovation journey, Horwood explained: 'I've lived in it for four years but it took a year to know what to do with it, and then a year to get the architects to develop it, and then a year to get planning. I had no intention of leaving it as it was; it was very higgledy-piggledy.'
His planning agent assured that the garden revamp would represent 'new but compatible features' within the residential garden, having considered site constraints and flood risks while enhancing the property's amenity value.
