The Princess of Wales‘ brother James Middleton has sparked a row with conservationists over plans to demolish part of his historic 16th Century farmhouse in Berkshire.
And while Kate and William are engulfed in the hornet’s nest stoked up by the bombshell ‘Megflix’ documentary, James has bats to deal with closer to home.
The entrepreneur and his French financier wife Alizée Thevanet want to take a sledgehammer to a conservatory and ‘unsightly’ garage at their £1.45million Grade II listed country house.
But they face two obstacles: objections by conservationists over the scale of the work and bats’ nests at the property which will require special permission before work can begin.
Kate Middleton’s brother James Middleton and his French financier wife Alizée Thevanet want to take a sledgehammer to a conservatory and ‘unsightly’ garage at their Berkshire home
James, 35, younger brother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, has also unveiled plans to build a new entrance lobby and open porch, and move internal stairs into the kitchen in a Grand Designs-style makeover.
But officials at the local council say the proposed new barn-style garage and studio is too big and would detract from the listed building which also lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
A conservation official at West Berkshire Council has called for planning permission to be refused.
‘Whilst the existing garage is of no architectural merit, its diminutive size does at least allow the garage to sit unobtrusively within the site,’ wrote conservation and design chief Debra Inston to the planning committee.
The couple face two obstacles – opposition from conservationists over the scale of the work and a bat’s nests at the property which will require special permission before work can start
Local council officials say the proposed new barn-style garage and studio is too big and would detract from the listed building which also lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
‘It is a modest structure of limited bulk and scale which is clearly subservient to [the house] and does not detract from its setting.
‘The new garage would be of a size, scale, bulk and height that would be significantly bigger than the current garage…the proposal would therefore fail to preserve the special architectural and historic interest of this listed building.’
Meanwhile an ecology survey revealed the farmhouse is being used as a day roost by common and soprano pipistrelle bats – both protected species.
It means that James will now have to apply for a special licence from Natural England before building work is carried out and the roosts destroyed.
A special licence will now be required from Natural England before building work is carried out
The farmhouse is being used as a day roost by common and soprano pipistrelle bats – both protected species. These plans show proposed changes to the home
He was the former boss of Boomf, a company that sold personalised marshmallows, but quit the city for life in the countryside after a decade of working in London left him battling with clinical depression.
He turned to farming to find peace and now keeps sheep, ducks, goats, hens, beehives and dogs at his Berkshire home.
His family are all now near-neighbours with parents Michael and Carole living in a £4.7million Georgian manor house in nearby Bucklebury, while sister Pippa bought Bucklebury Farm Park petting zoo.
As part of his farmhouse restoration project, James wants to demolish an existing ‘unsympathetic’ Victorian UPVC conservatory and replace it with an oak-framed single storey extension.
A West Berkshire Council conservation official has called for planning permission to be refused
Officials at West Berkshire Council are expected to make a decision next week and there have so far been no objections from neighbours. Pictured: James and his wife Alizee
He has also applied for planning permission for new windows, a balcony, alterations to the driveway, new automatic entrance gate and a new underground septic tank.
His new-look home will boast a ground floor morning room, study, drawing room and boot room with an outside terrace and herb garden in raised beds. It already has rustic beams and a stunning brick fireplace.
In a statement to the council, his planning agent said: ‘The proposal is to make alterations to the cottage to improve liveability and update previous alterations to the now listed building.
‘The design rationale is to comprehensively upgrade the property and to make it more suited to 21st Century living including facilitating homeworking.
‘The key to the design of the proposal is to ensure the changes to the building are quiet and respectful of the design of the original cottage.
‘The proposal is sustainable development in that it is a significant investment in an important heritage asset that has lacked recent investment.’
Officials at West Berkshire Council are expected to make a decision next week (December 13) and there have so far been no objections from neighbours.
James also applied for planning permission for new windows, a balcony, alterations to the driveway, new automatic entrance gate and a new underground septic tank
James’ planning agent said: ‘The key to the design of the proposal is to ensure the changes to the building are quiet and respectful of the design of the original cottage
James(pictured with Alizee) keeps sheep, ducks, goats, hens, beehives and dogs at his Berkshire home
James and the ‘love of his life’ Alizée married in a simple ceremony in France last year, believed to have been joined by his sister, Prince William and nephews and niece Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.
James told his 220,00 followers on Instagram: ‘Yesterday I married the love of my life surrounded by family, friends and of course a few dogs in the beautiful village of Bormes-les-Mimosas. Words cannot describe how happy I am.’