Pippa Middleton leaves locals 'shocked' as she loses fresh planning row – report

Pippa Middleton left locals "shocked" after building a car park on a meadow near her estate without planning permission, according to reports.

The Princess of Wales's younger sister, 43, and her husband James Matthews, 51, have now reportedly been forced to dig up the "unsightly" 400 square metre feature near Kintbury in Berkshire. 

Council documents seen by The Times said the "visually intrusive and urbanised" private development broke planning rules and "eroded" the rural character of the North Wessex Downs, which left parishioners "shocked".

The meadow was used for grazing and hay by the horses Monty and Drummer, two heavy horses that pulled the barge on the nearby canal.

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In a retrospective application, the couple had argued that, because the car park was to be used by anglers, it supported "the wider upkeep of the land" due to the income from the sale of fishing rights. However, inspectors found that the size of the development "directly harmed the local landscape".

The paddock forms part of Pippa and James's estate, Barton Court, where they have lived since 2022 with their three children, Arthur, eight, Grace, five, and Rose, four.

Pippa's appeal to overturn the ruling was dismissed in July, according to The Telegraph.

Pippa and James win footpath row

Last month, the couple won their battle over a footpath, blocking a public right of way through their estate. 

One anonymous resident told The Times that there remained a "lot of ill will and residual anger" from locals, who had walked along the path for generations.

A planning inspector ruled that there was not sufficient evidence that walkers had continuously used a driveway over the legally required 20-year period.

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In 2023, West Berkshire Ramblers petitioned West Berkshire District Council for public access to the driveway, claiming it offered a vital connection to a 12th-century church without forcing walkers to navigate a narrow country lane.

It was granted in 2024, but hedge fund manager James said he had not been aware of it when he purchased the property and pointed out that gates were necessary for the security of his family.

"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.

Following James and Pippa's victory, a spokeswoman for the couple said at the time: "We are grateful for the careful consideration given to the facts and appreciate the time invested by all parties."

The Matthews' private home away from the spotlight

Pippa and James's Barton Court home is just 12 miles away from Carole and Michael Middleton's Bucklebury Manor.

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After purchasing their Grade II-listed Georgian, they added an 82-by-19 ft outdoor swimming pool within the historic walled garden after receiving planning permission from West Berkshire Council.

Pippa was last seen in public in July, when she joined her mother, Carole, for a day out at Wimbledon.