Josie Gibson's dream of transforming her £1.1 million Somerset country cottage into an eco-retreat is under threat after planners warned her proposed extension exceeds volume limits by just one per cent. The This Morning presenter, 40, has applied for permission to add a new entrance, gym, dressing room and garage annexe to the 1980s four-bedroom home, which she says is in 'dire need' of refurbishment.
The project, set to feature in a new seven-part ITV series titled Josie Gibson's Big Country Build, is now at risk because the 2,238 sq ft house sits on green belt land. Under local rules, Gibson is only permitted to increase the overall volume by a third, but her current plans push that limit to a 34% rise. Planning experts warn that even small percentage increases can make or break applications on green belt land, with councils under pressure to strictly enforce regulations.
While neighbours have raised no formal objections, conservationists have flagged concerns over the impact of extra glazing. A Preservation Trust warned that increased light spill could be 'detrimental to the character of the national landscape' and affect ecology. One supportive neighbour requested no outdoor lights that stay on late into the night to preserve the area's dark skies.
Gibson, who won Big Brother 15 years ago and later joined This Morning as a presenter, bought the 3.4-acre property in November. She plans to keep sheep and bees on the land, which already features an orchard, paddock and ornamental pond. On Instagram, she admitted: 'My dream is to build a house as eco and luxurious as possible... though I'm becoming increasingly concerned that my harmonious dream is slowly turning into a construction nightmare.'
Council officials are expected to make a decision on her proposals later this month. Express Online has contacted Gibson's representatives for comment.
