Law & Justice
Pippa Middleton and Husband Ordered to Remove Unauthorised Car Park at 145‑acre Estate
Pippa Middleton and her husband, hedge‑fund manager James Matthews, have been ordered by West Berkshire Council to demolish a car park they built on their 145‑acre Barton Court estate in Kintbury without prior planning permission. The car park, covering about 400 square metres of agricultural hard standing, was constructed last year on land that had previously served as grazing ground for two heavy horses, Monty and Drummer. Residents of the village raised objections to the council, saying they had not been consulted before the work began. The council rejected a retrospective planning application, citing that the development was "visually intrusive and urbanised" and had "eroded a measure of the open and undeveloped rural character" of the North Wessex Downs. The estate, valued at £15.5 million, has been the subject of earlier disputes between the couple and locals, including a conflict over the restriction of public access to Mill Lane, a route that had been used by dog walkers and ramblers. The couple moved into Barton Court in 2022 with their three children, Arthur, Grace and Rose, and installed an electric gate and signs stating "Private: No Public Access" and "No Trespassing". The council has directed the removal of the car park, and the matter remains under review by the planning committee. The decision follows concerns raised by residents about traffic congestion, heritage impact and potential environmental effects on the River Kennet. The dispute over Mill Lane led to a Planning Inspectorate inquiry in May, in which James Matthews argued that the family’s security and privacy should be considered.