Latest news with #GrandDesigns-style
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Davinia Taylor wins battle to transform £1.7m mansion – as she cashes in on bio-hacking transformation
The stunning home boasts amazing features, including cornice ceiling and working fireplaces with countryside views TAYLOR-MADE Davinia Taylor wins battle to transform £1.7m mansion – as she cashes in on bio-hacking transformation Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ACTRESS Davinia Taylor has won her battle to turn a barn into a gym and health spa at her historic country home - but will have to make room for bats. The former Hollyoaks star has splashed out on a Grand Designs-style makeover of her £1.7million rural retreat which boasts a new outdoor swimming pool. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 9 Actress Davinia Taylor has won her battle to turn a barn into a gym and health spa at her historic country home - but will have to make room for bats Credit: Dan Charity 9 The star's stunning home is set to get a glow up Credit: Instagram 9 She plans on turning a barn into a gym and health spa at the huge pad Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia Taylor played Jude Cunningham in Channel 4's Hollyoaks from 1996 to 1998 and reprised the role in 2016 Credit: Getty - Contributor Now the weight loss expert wants to convert a crumbling barn at the 19th Century pad into a private gym and health spa with a sauna and two treatment rooms. The former stables will also have a ground floor gym, lobby and staff quarters with an en-suite bedroom for an employee to help run the estate in Lancashire. But a bat survey carried out ahead of the proposed development found common pipistrelle bats - a protected species - flying into the barn. It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to intentionally or recklessly harm or disturb them, which means Davinia will have to put up special bat boxes on the barn and nearby trees. In their report, an ecologist said: "Due to the transient nature of bats, their presence can never be entirely ruled out and a precautionary method of working should be adopted. "Therefore if bats are found during any stage of the development, work should stop immediately and a suitably qualified ecologist should be contacted to seek further advice." Davinia, 47, played Jude Cunningham in Hollyoaks and is also a former party girl and member of the Primrose Hill set, having previously been married to David Beckham's pal Dave Gardner. She and husband Matthew Leyden bought their historic country home four years ago after it came onto the market for the first time in years. The 6,723 property boasts original period features including cornice ceiling and working fireplaces with stunning countryside views in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Davinia has previously been given the go-ahead for a garden room extension and 26x9ft swimming pool, and has now applied for a "change of use" of the barn to a residential annexe. Davinia Taylor: My health journey In a design statement, her planning agent said: "The front-facing elevation is in a very poor state of repair and requires complete rebuilding. "The conversion of the barn does not affect the existing domestic residential curtilage and, as such, will not result in undue harm to the visual amenity of the area or character of landscape. "Bats were found to be present and, as such, the relevant protective measures must be adhered to on commencement of any restoration works/alterations." Officials at the local council gave the go-ahead after there were no objections from neighbours in the designated conservation area. 9 Davinia often posts videos from inside her luxury home Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia has previously been given the go-ahead for a garden room extension and 26x9ft swimming pool Credit: Instagram 9 The star turned her back on acting in favour of becoming a health and fitness guru Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia's partner Matthew Leyden Credit: Instagram
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Davinia Taylor wins battle to transform £1.7m mansion – as she cashes in on bio-hacking transformation
ACTRESS Davinia Taylor has won her battle to turn a barn into a gym and health spa at her historic country home - but will have to make room for bats. The former Hollyoaks star has splashed out on a Grand Designs-style makeover of her £1.7million rural retreat which boasts a new outdoor swimming pool. Advertisement 9 Actress Davinia Taylor has won her battle to turn a barn into a gym and health spa at her historic country home - but will have to make room for bats Credit: Dan Charity 9 The star's stunning home is set to get a glow up Credit: Instagram 9 She plans on turning a barn into a gym and health spa at the huge pad Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia Taylor played Jude Cunningham in Channel 4's Hollyoaks from 1996 to 1998 and reprised the role in 2016 Credit: Getty - Contributor Now the The former stables will also have a ground floor gym, lobby and staff quarters with an en-suite bedroom for an employee to help run the estate in Lancashire. But a bat survey carried out ahead of the proposed development found common pipistrelle bats - a protected species - flying into the barn. It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to intentionally or recklessly harm or disturb them, which means Davinia will have to put up special bat boxes on the barn and nearby trees. Advertisement Read More on Davinia Taylor In their report, an ecologist said: "Due to the transient nature of bats, their presence can never be entirely ruled out and a precautionary method of working should be adopted. "Therefore if bats are found during any stage of the development, work should stop immediately and a suitably qualified ecologist should be contacted to seek further advice." Davinia, 47, played Jude Cunningham in Hollyoaks and is also a former party girl and member of the Primrose Hill set, having previously been married to David Beckham's pal Dave Gardner. She and husband Matthew Leyden bought their historic country home four years ago after it came onto the market for the first time in years. Advertisement Most read in Celebrity The 6,723 property boasts original period features including cornice ceiling and working fireplaces with stunning countryside views in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Davinia has previously been given the go-ahead for a garden room extension and 26x9ft swimming pool, and has now applied for a "change of use" of the barn to a residential annexe. Davinia Taylor: My health journey In a design statement, her planning agent said: "The front-facing elevation is in a very poor state of repair and requires complete rebuilding. "The conversion of the barn does not affect the existing domestic residential curtilage and, as such, will not result in undue harm to the visual amenity of the area or character of landscape. Advertisement "Bats were found to be present and, as such, the relevant protective measures must be adhered to on commencement of any restoration works/alterations." Officials at the local council gave the go-ahead after there were no objections from neighbours in the designated conservation area. 9 Davinia often posts videos from inside her luxury home Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia has previously been given the go-ahead for a garden room extension and 26x9ft swimming pool Credit: Instagram Advertisement 9 The star turned her back on acting in favour of becoming a health and fitness guru Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia's partner Matthew Leyden Credit: Instagram 9 Davinia starring in Hollyoaks Credit: Lime Pictures
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Nightmare neighbours chuck MUD on Grand Designs-style home & annoy guests – they say it's an ‘eyesore' but they're wrong
One neighbour claimed it was making her life a 'misery' MUDDY HELL Nightmare neighbours chuck MUD on Grand Designs-style home & annoy guests – they say it's an 'eyesore' but they're wrong Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NIGHTMARE neighbours have allegedly harassed and thrown mud on a Grand Designs-style home, with residents calling the property an "eyesore" - but the owner claims they're wrong. Karl Jones, the owner of a luxury holiday barn conversion in the Welsh countryside, revealed a village has shunned him after complaints that he turned it into an "alien ocean liner" where guests parade naked. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 The luxury holiday barn conversion in Penisarwaun, North Wales Credit: WNS 11 The owner charges guests £300-a-night Credit: WNS 11 Guests were allegedly harassed during their countryside breaks in Wales Credit: WNS 11 Fuming neighbours had taken to the council to complain about 'rowdy visitors playing loud music' Credit: WNS The property developer is furious with locals who protested about his £300-a-night barn makeover. He claims he was forced to call the police after mud was thrown at the house and guests were allegedly harassed during their countryside breaks in Wales. Villagers have complained their lives are being ruined by 'rowdy visitors playing loud music' and the 'noisy' use of a hot tub. Locals say the 18ft glass windows in the barn end make it look like an ocean liner, not a country barn. Owner Mr Jones claims the accusations are 'unfounded' and 'fabricated' - and some guests say people have been 'trespassing' and 'verbally harassing' them. His barn at Penisarwaun, North Wales, has had a back-dated planning bid thrown out. But Mr Jones blasted: 'As someone born, raised, and still proudly residing in Wales, my intention has always been to celebrate the beauty of this area and our country as a whole. 'It is incredibly disheartening to feel ostracised by the very community I belong to – simply because I sought to create a better future for my children in the wake of the financial challenges brought about by the pandemic.' Mr Jones said he and his team had been 'under the impression' that planning had been previously granted. He added: 'The council and their team visited the site multiple times, signed off on the work being done, they were fully aware of the build we were undertaking. Moment neighbour 'STEALS' 1.9m of next door's garden & tears down their shed in bitter land row while they're on holiday 'We were always under the impression all work was approved. We believed the process had been completed.' The property was hit with a planning enforcement notice in April, ordering it to stop being used as a short-term holiday let, revert to being an annexe of the main house, Plas Coch, and have its windows removed. He claimed there had also been 'two troubling incidents' – involving mud thrown over a hedge, trespassing onto the property and verbal harassment of guests, reported to police on 30 April and 4 May. Mr Jones said he reported another incident to the police while construction work was underway on the barn. Fuming neighbours had taken to the council to complain about "rowdy visitors playing loud music" and noise pollution from a hot tub where nude holidaymakers hang out. When the retrospective planning application was submitted, many villagers objected to it — protesting the 'massive' and 'horrendous' window. 'MISERY' One resident slammed the house as having a "harmful effect on a small, quiet area of rural Wales" and described a loss of privacy for residents. Janet Gayther, 82, whose home is overlooked by the giant window, said she frequently sees guests in their birthday suit - and it's making her life a "misery". "I've seen all sorts - people coming out and getting in the hot tub without clothes. "I've driven past in the car and visitors have been sprawled out in the nude on the sofa. "They also climb in and out of the bath on the mezzanine floor." The great-grandmother added: 'There's the noise when they are having fun and games in the hot tub, having a drink and playing loud music. "It's making my life a misery at times." The elusive lodge can be reached only by a narrow road and is advertised as a 'haven of tranquillity' in the Welsh countryside. Neighbours say they've had visitors knocking on their door at 1am, trying to find it. Michael Sharp, 72, said people "behave really badly" and that it's the luxury hot tub that seems to "provoke bad behaviour". He said: 'We can hear the noise inside the house, even with the doors closed. "People are coming for a good time. We have had drones flying above our property. "Some people are completely selfish and not community-minded.' Mr Sharp told NorthWalesLive: "It just looks like some huge ocean liner all lit up in the night floating in the middle of the countryside. It's an alien structure, it bears no resemblance to the original barn. "We would just like the thing knocked down." A Gwynedd council spokesperson said: 'No appeal has been registered in relation to the planning application or the enforcement notice for Plas Coch, Penisarwaun.' 11 Karl Jones claimed there had also been 'two troubling incidents' – involving mud thrown over a hedge Credit: WNS 11 The owner has had a back-dated planning bid thrown out Credit: WNS 11 One angry neighbour said: 'I've driven past in the car and visitors have been sprawled out in the nude on the sofa' Credit: WNS 11 Locals say the 18ft glass windows in the barn end make it look like an ocean liner Credit: WNS 11 The Grand-Designs style house's stunning interior Credit: WNS 11 The property was hit with a planning enforcement notice in April Credit: WNS
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea star locked in neighbour row over plans to axe 40ft trees and build cinema & games room at his luxury home
Residents claim they are 'deeply concerned' by the planning application HOME GROUNDED Chelsea star locked in neighbour row over plans to axe 40ft trees and build cinema & games room at his luxury home CHELSEA goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has kicked off a row with neighbours after chopping down huge 40ft trees at his Surrey mansion. The Blues' stopper was given the go-ahead to extend his luxury pad near the club's Cobham training ground - complete with a cinema and games room. 4 Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has become embroiled in a battle with his neighbour Credit: Rex 4 The footy star wants to rip out 40ft trees to extend his luxury pad Credit: Getty 4 The trees to be axed are reportedly decades old Credit: Supplied Planners at the local council told him he could chop down two trees to make way for the proposed development but neighbours say he has razed more to the ground - without permission. They claim the 30-40ft trees are decades old, although not protected by a Tree Preservation Order, and help prevent overlooking on the leafy estate. The former Fulham goalkeeper was initially granted planning permission for a front and rear extension including a ground floor family room, kitchen and breakfast room and cinema. He also wants to demolish a porch and chimney stack and add dormer windows for a fourth bedroom and games room on the second floor. Documents filed at Elmbridge Borough Council state that building work started last year but has not yet been completed. Bettinelli, 32, has now submitted amended plans for tree planting and landscaping to allow for the removal of trees. In a letter of objection, one resident wrote: "The initial proposal for 'bush and hedge pruning' turned into the felling of multiple 30ft trees, decades old. "This has significantly affected local wildlife (there were documented owls nesting) and privacy/light shading of multiple properties around. "The new proposal to replace four trees is well short of any remedial measure in my view and should be significantly enhanced." Chaos at Stamford Bridge as Djurgarden fans jump over barriers and clash in away end against Chelsea Another neighbour wrote: "More hedging has been removed to erect the fence. "This was not done by the neighbouring property. "And versus the previous plan, there is now less commitment to hedging than before. "As a reminder, 30-40ft trees were cut down without permission. "There should be no reduction in commitment shown on the plan versus the one before." Bettinelli joined Chelsea in 2021 to boost the Blues' goalkeeping ranks following the departure of Willy Caballero, having been out of contract at Fulham. He spent a decade at Craven Cottage, making 120 appearances for the Whites and also represented England's under-21 team earlier in his career. The 6ft,4in stopper bought his Cobham pad for £1.5million in September, 2023, before applying for a Grand Designs-style makeover. In another objection, the local residents' association said it was "saddened and deeply concerned that the developer, architect and builder have breached the conditions imposed on the allowed application". They added: "Mature trees provide benefits to humans and wildlife alike, trees also provide wildlife corridors to and from the surrounding green spaces, woods, commons and heathland of Cobham. "Trees also provide screening to neighbours' properties and garden amenity spaces which they should be able to continue the enjoyment of using for everyday activity without the perception of overlooking." Council officials are expected to make a decision on the trees later this month. Bettinelli's planning agent was approached for comment. Rules on fences and trees Fences: Height Restrictions: In most areas, fences in front gardens should not exceed one metre in height without planning permission. For rear gardens, the limit is generally two metres. In most areas, fences in front gardens should not exceed one metre in height without planning permission. For rear gardens, the limit is generally two metres. Shared Fences: If a fence is shared with a neighbour, both parties are typically responsible for its maintenance and any costs associated with repairs or replacement. If a fence is shared with a neighbour, both parties are typically responsible for its maintenance and any costs associated with repairs or replacement. Building Regulations: Ensure that any new fence complies with local building regulations and does not obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians. Trees: Ownership: Trees located on your property are your responsibility, including any damage they may cause. Conversely, trees on a neighbour's property are their responsibility. Trees located on your property are your responsibility, including any damage they may cause. Conversely, trees on a neighbour's property are their responsibility. Overhanging Branches: You are entitled to trim branches that overhang into your property, but only up to the boundary line. The cut branches should be offered back to the tree owner. You are entitled to trim branches that overhang into your property, but only up to the boundary line. The cut branches should be offered back to the tree owner. Protected Trees: Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Check with your local council before undertaking any work on a tree, as unauthorised work can result in fines. Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Check with your local council before undertaking any work on a tree, as unauthorised work can result in fines. Roots: If tree roots from a neighbour's tree cause damage to your property, you have the right to remove the roots. However, it is advisable to discuss this with your neighbour first to avoid disputes. Always consult your local council or a legal adviser for specific regulations and advice.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Chelsea star locked in neighbour row over plans to axe 40ft trees and build cinema & games room at his luxury home
CHELSEA goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has kicked off a row with neighbours after chopping down huge 40ft trees at his Surrey mansion. The Blues' stopper was given the go-ahead to extend his luxury pad near the club's Cobham training ground - complete with a cinema and games room. 4 Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has become embroiled in a battle with his neighbour Credit: Rex 4 The footy star wants to rip out 40ft trees to extend his luxury pad Credit: Getty 4 The trees to be axed are reportedly decades old Credit: Supplied Planners at the local council told him he could chop down two trees to make way for the proposed development but neighbours say he has razed more to the ground - without permission. They claim the 30-40ft trees are decades old, although not protected by a Tree Preservation Order, and help prevent overlooking on the leafy estate. The former He also wants to demolish a porch and chimney stack and add dormer windows for a fourth bedroom and games room on the second floor. Read more Sport Documents filed at Elmbridge Borough Council state that building work started last year but has not yet been completed. Bettinelli, 32, has now submitted amended plans for tree planting and landscaping to allow for the removal of trees. In a letter of objection, one resident wrote: "The initial proposal for 'bush and hedge pruning' turned into the felling of multiple 30ft trees, decades old. "This has significantly affected local wildlife (there were documented owls nesting) and privacy/light shading of multiple properties around. Most read in Football "The new proposal to replace four trees is well short of any remedial measure in my view and should be significantly enhanced." Chaos at Stamford Bridge as Djurgarden fans jump over barriers and clash in away end against Chelsea Another neighbour wrote: "More hedging has been removed to erect the fence. "This was not done by the neighbouring property. "And versus the previous plan, there is now less commitment to hedging than before. "As a reminder, 30-40ft trees were cut down without permission. "There should be no reduction in commitment shown on the plan versus the one before." Bettinelli joined He spent a decade at Craven Cottage, making 120 appearances for the Whites and also represented The 6ft,4in stopper bought his Cobham pad for £1.5million in September, 2023, before applying for a Grand Designs-style makeover. In another objection, the local residents' association said it was "saddened and deeply concerned that the developer, architect and builder have breached the conditions imposed on the allowed application". They added: "Mature trees provide benefits to humans and wildlife alike, trees also provide wildlife corridors to and from the surrounding green spaces, woods, commons and heathland of Cobham. "Trees also provide screening to neighbours' properties and garden amenity spaces which they should be able to continue the enjoyment of using for everyday activity without the perception of overlooking." Council officials are expected to make a decision on the trees later this month. Bettinelli's planning agent was approached for comment. Rules on fences and trees Fences: Height Restrictions: In most areas, fences in front gardens should not exceed one metre in height without planning permission. For rear gardens, the limit is generally two metres. Shared Fences: If a fence is shared with a neighbour, both parties are typically responsible for its maintenance and any costs associated with repairs or replacement. Building Regulations: Ensure that any new fence complies with local building regulations and does not obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians. Trees: Ownership: Trees located on your property are your responsibility, including any damage they may cause. Conversely, trees on a neighbour's property are their responsibility. Overhanging Branches: You are entitled to trim branches that overhang into your property, but only up to the boundary line. The cut branches should be offered back to the tree owner. Protected Trees: Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Check with your local council before undertaking any work on a tree, as unauthorised work can result in fines. Roots: If tree roots from a neighbour's tree cause damage to your property, you have the right to remove the roots. However, it is advisable to discuss this with your neighbour first to avoid disputes. Always consult your local council or a legal adviser for specific regulations and advice. 4 Bettinelli snapped up the £1.5million mansion in 2023 Credit: Supplied
