Geri and Christian Horner have successfully obtained retrospective planning permission for an outdoor pizza oven and pergola at their Grade II listed mansion in Oxfordshire. The decision follows objections from neighbors and heritage experts who had raised concerns about the impact of the couple's home improvements on the local environment.
Planning officers granted approval for the gazebo and pizza oven on Monday, contingent upon reductions in the height of the structures and the pizza oven flue. The report concluded that these modifications would not negatively affect the living conditions of neighboring properties, citing acceptable levels of privacy, daylight, and outlook for surrounding residents. The council noted that the domestic scale of the proposed uses would not generate disruptive noise or activity.
An earlier application for the oak-framed gazebo, pizza oven, and pergola had been refused last year after multiple neighbors voiced objections. Concerns were raised about structures already built without permission, including a sauna block and a pergola, with questions about the timeline of council oversight.
The couple reapplied for the pergola in January, which was granted in March. They subsequently resubmitted an application for the gazebo and brick-built pizza oven in March, after reducing their height by 300 meters. Building work on the gazebo had commenced in April of the previous year, though it was not yet completed.
This planning dispute is the latest in a series of ongoing issues the couple has faced since purchasing the property in 2006. In March, they were granted permission to construct a £30,000 horse walker for their 14 horses, despite local objections regarding its height and visual impact. The approval for the horse walker was subject to strict conditions, including its use for private equestrian and land management purposes only, prohibiting any commercial activities. The council deemed the design appropriate for the rural-equestrian setting and unlikely to harm the character of the area, despite its visibility from neighboring properties and public roads.