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Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner have finally been granted permission to build a £30,000 horse walker amid their ongoing planning row with neighbours.
The Spice Girl, 53, plans to build the 77ft structure on her estate with ex-Red Bull Formula One team principal Christian, 52.
The couple own a horse racing company called OMBI and have built new stables for 14 horses at their Oxfordshire pad.
Locals near their home objected to the works over concerns relating to its height and the visual impact on the area.
Despite them committing to plant 12 new trees to hide the structure, several objections were formally lodged with West Northamptonshire District Council.
However, council officials have granted Geri and Christian permission to build the walker, subject to strict conditions.
In its report, the council said: ‘The building shall be used for private equestrian and land management uses only and no commercial use, including riding lessons, tuition, livery or competitions shall take place at any time.
‘Whilst it is acknowledged that the walker incorporates a steep pitched roof for its size, the general design is functional in form.
‘Giving regard to its siting, scale and rural-equestrian character, the design is considered appropriate for the open countryside location and would not harm the character of the area.’
A local who objected to the works, told The Sun: ‘Whilst we do not object to the principle of a horse walker… we object to the plans as currently presented.
‘The proposed structure would be extremely visible from our property, other village properties, and from a public highway.
‘In a rural conservation area this would be unacceptable as it would completely change the character of the area.’
The saga is the latest in a long-running planning row with their neighbours.
In January, they sparked another row over an ‘illegal’ brick-built pizza oven in the garden of their Grade II listed mansion.
They had already found themselves at loggerheads with residents over a pergola and gazebo built without planning permission.
Neighbours have claimed that the couple are ruining the ‘tranquillity’ of the quaint village with their never-ending home improvements while another said it feels like they’re being ‘trolled’ after Mr and Mrs Horner ‘wrapped fairy lights’ around the pergola.
Geri and Christian resubmitted a separate retrospective planning application for ‘an oak framed gazebo with lead roof and a brick-built pizza oven’, which they isn’t fully built.
The couple re-applied for planning permission for just the pergola in the middle of January.
On their most recent application, they admit building work on the gazebo started on 14 April last year – and now nine months later they’re submitting a second application to validate the ‘illegal’ works.
When asked ‘Can the site be seen from a public road, public footpath, bridleway or other public land?’, they’ve ticked the ‘no’ box.
It’s unclear whether this is true, as recent pictures show that the pergola at least can be viewed from the neighbouring church’s grounds.
The original application for both pergola and gazebo were badly received by residents.
Several neighbours also submitted objections on the application.
‘This has already been built, along with a sauna block higher than the wall, which in a conservation area is unacceptable,’ one wrote.
Another neighbour wrote: ‘The council would have been onsite to know this construction has been built for at least four months when signing off a swimming pool and other construction.
‘Questions need to be asked and answered. Somehow, a 30 foot long pergola was missed.’
Another neighbour questioned why action hadn’t been taken sooner to stop the development.
They added: ‘This was once a beautiful quaint property and plot in this conservation area.
‘Where are you inspectors, or do the rules not apply here?’
Also, objecting to the scheme was the council’s heritage and conservation team, who said: ‘Whilst well-constructed the pergola lies in direct sight of the church when viewed from this garden area to the east of the house and detracts from views of the church which Grade I listed and therefore impacts its setting.’
The heritage team added: ‘It is worth also noting a pizza oven has been constructed in red brick with flue.
‘Based on its construction I would consider this development.
‘This flue is also visible over the wall and which cumulatively is considered to have a harmful impact of the setting of the listed building.’
