Pippa Middleton and husband ordered to demolish car park
West Berkshire Council rejected retrospective planning permission for the development at the £15.5 million Barton Court estate.
West Berkshire Council has ordered Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews, to remove a car park built on their 145-acre Barton Court estate. The couple, who moved into the property in 2022, constructed the car park without obtaining prior planning permission.
The couple applied for retrospective permission, stating that the anglers' car park supported the estate through the sale of fishing rights along the River Kennet. However, the council rejected the proposal, stating the development was visually intrusive and had eroded the rural character of the North Wessex Downs.
The construction involved covering about 400 square metres of a meadow with agricultural hard standing. The area was previously used as grazing ground for two horses, Monty and Drummer.
Local residents in Kintbury raised objections, claiming they were not consulted before construction began last year. Some neighbours alleged the car park was intended to move vehicles away from the couple's home to preserve their views.
Planners also noted a lack of mitigation measures to protect the River Kennet from environmental impacts. The estate, valued at £15.5 million, was previously owned by Sir Terence Conran.
The couple has previously faced opposition from locals regarding restricted access to Mill Lane. This dispute involved 35 residents and the Ramblers Association seeking official recognition of the route as a public right of way.