Princess Catherine’s sister Pippa Middleton and husband James Matthews ordered to demolish unauthorised car park at £15.5 million estate; neighbours raise concerns over construction without consultation

Pippa Middleton and her hedge fund manager husband, James Matthews, have been ordered to remove a car park they built on their sprawling country estate without obtaining prior planning permission. The decision comes after a group of residents in the picturesque village of Kintbury raised objections with West Berkshire Council, claiming they had not been consulted before construction began last year.Pippa, the younger sister of Princess Catherine, and James own the land, which forms part of their £15.5 million, 145-acre Barton Court estate. The couple moved into the property in 2022 and have since been involved in several disagreements with locals over developments and access to the estate.Council rules car park development was visually intrusiveAccording to a report by The Times, the couple subsequently applied for retrospective planning permission for the anglers' car park, arguing that the sale of fishing rights along the River Kennet was a significant source of income that helped support the upkeep of the estate.However, West Berkshire Council rejected the proposal, concluding 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 couple have now been directed to remove the car park.The development reportedly involved laying approximately 400 square metres of agricultural hard standing across a meadow. The land was previously known among residents as the grazing ground of two heavy horses, Monty and Drummer, who lived there before the estate changed hands.Neighbours objected to construction without consultationThe car park drew considerable criticism from residents, who approached the council after noticing the construction. In objections submitted to the authorities, locals said they were 'shocked' by the development and questioned why the community had not been consulted before work began.Some residents also alleged that the car park had been created to move vehicles away from areas closer to the couple's home, thereby preserving the views around their property.One objector reportedly wrote: 'This application is to move unsightly parking out of sight of the applicants on entry to the Barton Court estate to the detriment of the residents and the heritage of Kintbury.'Another resident highlighted concerns about the location, traffic congestion and the potential impact on the area's heritage, requesting that the planning committee conduct a site inspection before reaching a decision.Planners also raised concerns about the absence of mitigation measures to protect the River Kennet from potential adverse environmental impacts.Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' previous dispute with localsThis is not the first time Pippa and James have found themselves at odds with residents since moving to Barton Court. The couple previously faced opposition after restricting public access to Mill Lane, a route that runs through their estate and had reportedly been used by local dog walkers and ramblers for years.The Grade I-listed Barton Court, situated along the River Kennet near Kintbury, was previously owned by late retail tycoon Sir Terence Conran, who had allowed members of the public to use the lane.However, after Pippa and James moved into the property with their three children, Arthur, Grace and Rose, in 2022, they installed an electric gate to restrict access. Signs reading 'Private: No Public Access' and 'No Trespassing' also appeared around the estate.The move prompted 35 residents, supported by the Ramblers Association, to approach West Berkshire Council, seeking to have Mill Lane officially recognised as a public right of way.A Planning Inspectorate inquiry into the dispute began at the village hall in May. James Matthews also attended the proceedings, where he reportedly argued that the family's security and privacy concerns should be taken into consideration.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.