Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews have won a planning battle to prevent changes to their driveway at their £15 million home in West Berkshire. A planning inspector has decided not to confirm an order that would have seen the route recorded as a public footpath.
Dispute over electric security gate
James, a hedge fund boss, installed an electric security gate on the drive in September 2022. This prompted walking group West Berkshire Ramblers to apply for a “definitive map modification order” in January 2023 to recognise a public footpath on the land.
The 51-year-old told a planning inquiry at Kintbury Coronation Hall near Hungerford earlier this year that, due to his family’s public profile, there is a need for a higher level of security at his property.
Inspector’s decision
Following his request, planning inspector Kenneth Taylor has now decided not to confirm the order, meaning the route will not be recorded as a public footpath.
West Berkshire District Council said in a statement that the application was based on “the legal principle that a public footpath can be deemed to exist if it has been enjoyed by the public for an uninterrupted period of 20 years, without force, secrecy or permission, or if evidence infers that a public footpath has been dedicated by a landowner at some point in the past and that dedication has then been accepted by the public (i.e. by being used by the public)”.
Security concerns
Speaking earlier this year, James said, “There are implications for my family, due to their high public profile, which means there is a need for a higher level of security than would otherwise be the case if the circumstances were different.
“Therefore to improve security for my family, before we moved in, I arranged for an electric security gate to be erected on the drive.
“This is the gate at Point X. It was installed in September 2022. It is kept shut, except perhaps on the odd occasion such as when a visit by family or friends is expected. When the gate was put in, no one from the parish council or the village came to speak with us, or contacted us, about the gate to say that there was any problem with it being there.
“In the period after the footpath application, unfortunately there has been a continued need to enhance security and the gates at Station Road have therefore been upgraded in the summer of 2025 and kept closed.”
Speaking after the decision was made, a spokesperson for James and Pippa said, “We are grateful for the careful consideration given to the facts and appreciate the time invested by all parties.”
