Latest news with #mansion
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The Late Late refurb! Locals living near James Corden's derelict mansion say it is 'shameful he has abandoned it' after star returns to US
James Corden has sparked fury among neighbours by 'abandoning' a mansion he wanted to knock down and turn into an £8million new home. The actor had been given approval to demolish the 1960s property in Oxfordshire, after months of delays and objections from the local council and English Heritage. He planned to replace the structure with a six-bedroom pile with a pool and spa. But this week it was announced Corden is set to return to the US for a 17-week run on Broadway in New York, for a play. Locals in quaint surrounding villages now fear his building project will never be completed. Jayne Worral has been the landlady of The Bull pub in nearby Wargrave since 1980 and said it would be 'sacrilege' for Corden to leave the property empty. Jayne, 72, said: 'He should live in it or sell it so a family can live in it. It's shameful to buy anywhere with that sort of standing and then have no one benefit from living in it. He should be ashamed. It's not fair. 'I'm 72 and society has changed so much - it's all money, money, money, me, me, me. We have a good community here, but so many local shops have closed down because people live such isolated lives.' The entrance to the property today is gated and shut with signs advertising the successful planning application One resident said: 'People like James Corden think they can do what they want. 'We need people actually living in the properties around here and then contributing locally. Not having grand plans and then leaving the country. We need certainty. 'He created a huge fuss around wanting the plans to go through how he wanted. How he is leaving. What is going on? 'That would be a lovely house and surroundings for someone local.' Sue Harris, who has worked in a local shop in nearby Henley since 1997, agreed that it would be a shame if the celebrity left the house derelict. She said: 'It would be a shame if he left it empty, as we get a lot of characters wanting to live here. We've had Liam Gallagher come in with the kids, he was lovely. You never know who is going to walk through the door.' But Sue said she was worried that the property purchases of the mega-wealthy like Mr Corden were making Henley and the surrounding villages unaffordable for working people who had been brought up in the area. She said: 'My daughter rents in Henley and she pays more than our mortgage. It's all these posh people moving here, pushing up prices.' Sue added she had never met Mr Corden, but thought he was being 'arrogant' with his behaviour around the property and his previous long-running planning dispute. She said: 'Everything goes his way, he's fine. But if he doesn't get his way, he throws the dolly out the pram.' But a builder who lived locally said he had met Mr Corden several times as his dad had attended Holmer Green Senior School near High Wycombe with the celebrity. He said: 'He's a lovely bloke - but to just buy a house and never live in it, that's mental. But he's rich, so he lives a different lifestyle.' Martin Walker, 78, said: 'I wouldn't know James Corden is he were to fall on my head. But I know the plot of land and the area. I wish he would tear it down. I hate the look of the place. It's a great circular thing. It's not doing anyone any good.' One of James' representatives told MailOnline the star had no plans to move back to the states 'full time.' To undertake the vast build, James would have had to comply with dozens of regulations to safeguard local wildlife and trees In January last year, experts also warned that the area nearby was littered with Roman and prehistoric finds, with archaeological work to be done to find out whether there are any historic settlements on the site of Corden's Templecombe House. To undertake the vast build, James would have had to comply with dozens of regulations to safeguard local wildlife and trees, according to The Sun. Mr Corden is set to return to the US to star in the revival of the play ART, due to open in Broadway's Music Box theatre on September 16. The TV star had spent eight years living in the United States and returned home in 2023 along with his wife Julia and their three children. He had a long run on one of American TV's most influential programmes, The Late Late Show. When speaking about leaving his LA home in 2022 he said: 'I love being in Los Angeles. I love it but we always knew it would be an adventure and not a final destination.'
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Inside world's wackiest £15million mansion left abandoned on 400ft skyscraper – and why the owner never moved in
THE fate of an abandoned £15million mansion perched on a 400ft skyscraper hangs in balance after the tycoon owner fled to the UK. Details of what's inside the unbelievable White House replica have been revealed for the first time - but it remains unclear whether the sprawling home will have any residents. 9 9 9 9 Businessman Vijay Mallya, 69, who lives in the UK, commissioned the Sky Mansion on the 34th and 35th Kingfisher Towers in Bengaluru, India in 2010. But the tycoon could never live in his dream home after he fled the country in 2016 after defrauding at least 17 banks of nearly £1billion. Now sources familiar with the case say the future of the mansion remains uncertain as lenders and agencies probing the fraud are still trying to recover cash from Mallya. Sprawled over an unbelievable 40,000sqft on two levels, the wacky mansion sticks out like a sore thumb on the gargantuan tower. For its ultra-rich owner - if it ever gets one - there's a helipad, infinity pool and an open deck that offers a 360-degree viewing platform of the city. And despite the penthouse being part of the skyscraper, it's a private villa with two of its own elevators. The Kingfisher Towers were built on 4.5 acres of land where the father-in-law of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Narayan Murthy, reportedly bought a flat last year. The mansion was one of the first residential penthouses in the country built at such a height. Chairman of Prestige Group Irfan Razack previously said constructing the gargantuan mansion was a challenge as it was mounted on cantilever - a structure only supported at one end. He said to local media: "It's a complex structure. It was a challenge to construct the mansion on a huge cantilever at that height." Dubai hotel with world's largest waterpark It's unknown when the build was completed - but the exterior of the mansion appears to be fully finished. But it's not clear if the White House replica is finished on the inside. Interior firm Morph Design and Co, an arm of Prestige Group hired to work on the interiors of the mansion, revealed to The Sun that the 'interiors of the mansion were not done'. While the house is reportedly taken care of by the developers and regularly cleaned, the penthouse lies unoccupied due to legal tangles. Prestige Constructions didn't respond to a request from The Sun on its fate. Before the penthouse was finished, Mallya fled the country after facing legal action over money laundering and alleged fraud charges. He had taken a loan from a syndicate of banks for the operations of his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines - but he failed to make the payment. 9 9 9 9 The tycoon later declared himself bankrupt in the UK. Indian banks have since been seeking to recover the outstanding loan amount through various legal mean - including the sale of his assets. Several of his properties have been seized by the Enforcement Directorate, otherwise known as the financial crimes police. And the mansion is likely part of the recovery procedure. SS Naganand, the counsel who appeared for one of the banks, told The Sun: "The tower was part of the entire recovery proceeding and all the assets belonging to him are part of the process, certainly that mansion. "The building was constructed long before the litigation started. 'Prestige Group put up the structure and kept a portion of it, the rest of which came to [his] company and Mallya had built something for him on the top and belonged to him personally. "From my understanding there were proceedings relating to that both in Indian courts and the UK courts." Mallya's former lawyer EC Agrawala said that the fate of the property can only be decided by the Indian government. He said: "The mansion was under construction. "The last three to four years, I have not followed it. It was seized by the Enforcement Directorate but not fully confiscated. "It is still lying unoccupied and unsold as the government is yet to decide its fate." Who is Vijay Mallya? By Annabel Bate, Foreign News Reporter VIJAY Mallya, 69, is a former businessman and politician who is the subject of an extradition effort by the Indian Government to return him from the UK. Officials want him to face charges of financial crimes in India. Mallya was the founder and former owner of defunct Kingfisher Airlines, as well as former co-owner of the Force India Formula One team - but it went into administration. The tycoon fled India in 2016 after defrauding at least 17 banks of nearly £1billion. Mallya he also faced legal action over money laundering alongside alleged fraud charges. He had taken a loan from a syndicate of banks for the operations of his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines - but he failed to make the payment. The tycoon later declared himself bankrupt in the UK. Indian banks have since been seeking to recover the outstanding loan amount through various legal mean - including the sale of his assets. Several of his properties have been seized by the Enforcement Directorate, otherwise known as the financial crimes police. 9
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
3-alarm fire destroys Fort Worth mansion and injures firefighter, officials say
A large mansion-style home caught fire Wednesday morning after a possible lightning strike, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department. Crews responded to the home in the 6900 block of Sanctuary Heights Road at about 8 a.m., officials with the fire department said. The fire was being fed by broken gas lines inside the house, and a partial roof collapse sent firefighters out of the home, officials said. Because of the home's size, fire crews called a second alarm. Fire crews sounded a third alarm after a firefighter fell through an elevator shaft and called mayday, officials said. Other firefighters located him and brought him outside the home. Ninety firefighters worked for two hours to fully contain the fire, officials said. One firefighter was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Geri Halliwell launches SECOND bid to install plush gates at Grade II listed mansion - after previous plans were slammed for being 'too tall'
Geri Halliwell has launched a second bid to install plush gates at her Grade II listed mansion - after previous plans were rejected for being 'too tall'. The Spice Girl, 52, and her F1 Red Bull boss husband Christian Horner, 51, wanted to shift their current boundary back from the road and install stone posts on either side, replacing the current timber set-up. But planners rejected their plans as the 10ft tall proposals were 3ft higher than the current gate. Now the couple have re-applied to replace their gates - but this time limited the height of the gate to two meters. Geri and Christian have again proposed oak gates hung from cut stone piers, complete with finials. The finials appear to be more understated than the previous design - which showed them as huge globes above the posts. The posts without the finials are proposed to be the same height as the existing barriers, and will be built in alongside cut stone walling in a recessed gateway. The access road will be replaces with a rubble strip laid under the new gates. The planning application states: 'The new gates are being replaced on agricultural land, which remains designated as agricultural. Since the gates are not being introduced for the first time but are merely a replacement of the existing gates, this is not considered a change of use or a new development. Designs show they are looking to install stone posts on either side of the driveway, replacing the current timber set-up The finials appear to be more understated than the previous design - which showed them as huge globes above the posts. Pictured: The original gates (left) and the first proposed gates (right) 'The gates continue to serve the same purpose, providing access to the agricultural land. As such, the replacement of the gates falls under the category of replacement of a private way (Part 6 - Class B (d)), which is typically permitted under existing agricultural land use. 'Therefore, the replacement gates are lawful and do not alter the existing lawful use of the land. 'Aside from the piers, which match in height with the existing timber piers, all other elements are 2000mm in height or less. The proposal therefore complies with permitted development allowances.' The high-flying pair said the move at their 18th century Northamptonshire pad was to provide a 'waiting bay' in the recessed entry for agricultural land - which they hoped would have helped with safety for larger agricultural and equestrian vehicles. The blueprints for the new design showed the couple wanted to replace the current wooden gate posts with cut stone piers, complete with iron finials. The wall leading to the gates were planned to be cut ironstone and the gates made of oak. Refusing the new gate, the council planning officer previously said: 'The height of the proposed development reaches 3.1m, which exceeds the height of the existing gate which sits at 2.3m. 'The proposed gate fails to comply with criteria of Class A of Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning Order 2015 owing to the height of the proposed gate exceeding the former height, and therefore a certificate of lawfulness should not be issued.' It comes after the Horners sparked fury among their rural community when they embarked on a planning war to replace their 18th century kitchen garden with an open-air swimming pool. Previous recent requests to their local council have included demolition and replacement of a glasshouse, the building of a new barn, and a first floor extension to their home's west wing. Plans for the pool caused a particular stir due to its proximity to the local graveyard - with some neighbours saying they worried funerals could be interrupted by 'screaming, shouting and splashing'. It came just ten years after Christian applied to build a different swimming pool in a barn across the road from their luxury pad. He confirmed that it had been built in an interview with Luxury London in 2019, where he said he was trying to get it ready in time for the British Grand Prix. The mansion already has five bedrooms, with one each for the couple and the three children they have between them, as well as a spare bedroom. It also has an indoor pool inside a barn and a fully-equipped gym. But they also wanted to look at access routes to their home and decided to add new gates and a recessed entrance to an opening to their agricultural land, making it safer for large vehicles to wait while the gates are opened. In May 2023 the couple had their first horse-racing win, with a steed named after the Spice Girls' 1999 No 1 single - Two Become Won. And over the last year they have gone from success to success - Lift Me Up, again named after one of the pop star's songs, galloped on resolutely to pocket the £2,053.20 prize at the Hunters' Chase in January.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Magnificent mansion with pool and wine cellar up for sale for £4.25 million
This magnificent Grade II listed period eight bedroom mansion with swimming pool and wine cellar is up for sale for £4.25 million. Martyr Worthy Place is 10,000 sq ft, set is 5.83 Itchen Valley acres and boasts amazing views of the South Downs. There's also a wine library, annex, staff flat, pool house and a tree-lined gravel drive. (Image: Peter Wright Photographer)READ MORE: Formula 1 world champion puts his Hampshire estate up for sale for £58 million The stately entrance leads into a grand reception hall and a sweeping staircase. The generous, double-aspect drawing room opens out to the terrace and garden. Next to it, there's the morning room, fully wood-panelled dining room and impressive open plan kitchen and family room. There's also a utility room, boot room, hallway, and back staircase that leads to a large cellar, which includes both a wine cellar and a gym. (Image: Peter Wright Photographer) This part of the house also provides access to an annex, featuring a living room, kitchen, bedroom and shower room. Upstairs, the principal bedroom has breath-taking south-facing views, a dressing room and an en suite with roll top bath. A library with exposed beams, a wood burner, and shelves of books is situated next to the main bedroom, offering an ideal space for a home office. (Image: Peter Wright Photographer) There are two more bedroom suites with well-designed bath rooms, as well as a laundry room and a separate cloakroom. A staff flat includes a sitting room with a kitchen area, a bedroom, and a shower room. The second floor, accessible by a sweeping staircase, features four additional bedrooms. (Image: Peter Wright Photographer) The stunning gardens, which have been redesigned by landscape designer John Brookes, blend formal and informal planting and include a globe water feature, an original croquet lawn, formal terrace, and tranquil pond with a fountain flowing through yew hedges into wildflower meadows. In a secluded corner lies a newly built heated swimming pool with a wide stone terrace and pool house. Tara Boulton, of agents Savills, said: "Martyr Worthy Place is a magnificent home which has been meticulously restored through an extensive renovation, with the perfect blend of original and contemporary comforts. "This historic property, with its Queen Anne, Georgian and Edwardian influences and beautiful landscaped gardens, is featured in the Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England." Martyr Worthy is a delightful rural village situated to the east of Winchester in the heart of the Itchen Valley. (Image: Peter Wright Photographer)
