Pippa Middleton's neighbours have been left shocked after losing a long-standing dispute regarding her Berkshire estate, which she purchased for £15 million in 2022.
The Princess of Wales' younger sister, 43, and her husband James Matthews, 51, received good news on Monday when a planning inspector overturned a previous decision that a walking route through their Barton Court property was a public right of way. He ruled that there was not sufficient evidence that walkers had continuously used a driveway over the legally required 20-year period.
In 2023, West Berkshire Ramblers petitioned West Berkshire District Council to gain public access to the driveway, claiming it offered a vital connection to a 12th-century church without needing to navigate a narrow country lane.
This was granted in 2024, but hedge fund manager James quickly contested the decision, telling a public inquiry in May 2026 that he was not made aware of any public footpath when purchasing the property. In support of his argument, former owner Lady Victoria Conran maintained she had similarly only encountered one person using the driveway in the 30 years she lived there.
James also pointed out that the gates were necessary for the security of his family, including their three young children: Arthur, born in 2018, Grace, born in 2021, and Rose, born in 2022.
© Getty"There are implications for my family, due to their high public profile, which means there is a need for a higher level of security than would otherwise be the case," he said, referring to the family's links to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
“Therefore to improve security for my family, before we moved in, I arranged for an electric security gate to be erected on the drive. This is the gate at Point X. It was installed in September 2022. It is kept shut, except perhaps on the odd occasion such as when a visit by family or friends is expected.
“When the gate was put in, no one from the parish council or the village came to speak with us, or contacted us, about the gate to say that there was any problem with it being there. In the period after the footpath application, unfortunately there has been a continued need to enhance security and the gates at Station Road have therefore been upgraded in the summer of 2025 and kept closed," he added.
Following James and Pippa's victory on Monday, a spokeswoman for the couple said: "We are grateful for the careful consideration given to the facts and appreciate the time invested by all parties."
© GettyMeanwhile, local councillor Tony Vickers concluded: "I am surprised and very disappointed that the inspector came down on the landowner's side. After attending almost all the inquiry, I could not see any relevant argument put by Mr Matthews' supporters."
Inside Pippa and James' private home
Located just 12 miles away from Carole and Michael Middleton's Bucklebury Manor, Barton Court offers James and Pippa the perfect balance of family life and secluded privacy.
© Dave BenettAfter purchasing the Grade II-listed Georgian manor set on 150 acres in 2022, they submitted planning applications to add an 82 ft by 19 ft outdoor swimming pool within the historic walled garden.
At the time, concerns were raised that it might disturb the "historic fabric" of the home. There were also worries about "the Middle Stone Age sites" nearby which could be disturbed by the extensive digging required for the grand plans.
However, permission was ultimately granted by West Berkshire Council.
