Simon Cowell Gets Green Light for £8m Cotswolds Party Barn
He may have had a torrid week in the spotlight thanks to his long-standing association with the sex scandal-ridden David Walliams – but nearer home, Simon Cowell has had some good news.
The TV tycoon has been allowed to transform his £8m Cotswold farmhouse to incorporate a ‘party barn’ where he can host his celebrity buddies and extended family, as revealed by the Mail.
Cowell’s involvement in the scandal comes from the fact that he hired Walliams as a judge for ten years on Britain’s Got Talent – where it was said that he brought vulnerable young girls as his guests. Cowell eventually sacked Walliams for vile off-mic comments about contestants, and it is believed he was stung by being linked to the fallen star six years after he stopped speaking to him.
Therefore, after a difficult time, it’s a relief for Cowell to have his changes to his country home of Grade II listed status finally approved.
The fact that he purchased the property three years ago and that it’s been almost two years since the application was made, and it was actually approved just last month.
Plans Include Socialising Space the Size of a New-Build House
An internal and external alteration for the East Wing of the property would be carried out according to the application made to the West Oxfordshire Council. Cowell’s agents also revealed that the space allocated for socialising would be as big as a brand new house apart that this is just one of the changes that are to be made.
Cowell has requested to alter some parts of the house for more comfortable facilities, such as a changing room, a bathroom, a master bedroom, and a lobby that connects different rooms on the floor, plus, they are thinking of adding a music and games room to their list of alterations.
Simon, the music mogul, 67, relocated to western Oxfordshire more than four years ago from a place he had bought the estate with his fiancée Lauren Silverman, 49, and their two children when a spate of break-ins resulted in the loss of their now-sold £45 million former home in Holland Park, west London.
The leafy Cotswold enclave near Great Tew is the home base for neighbours such as David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, and Princess Beatrice and her spouse Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The property comprises the five-bedroom main house, which was built in the 19th century, and outlying cottages. In addition to that, there is a large garden, gym and beautifully manicured gardens.
Sometimes, Simon shares glimpses of the beautiful interior of the luxurious home through his social media accounts. Occasionally, in the videos that he shares, the outdoor area can also be seen.
A few months ago, he shared videos of himself that were recorded in the house on his Netflix talent show, Simon Cowell: The Next Act.
Inside Simon Cowell’s Cotswolds Family Life
Simon Cowell, the Syco founder, also posted a video showing him with the two of his favourite pets – Yorkshire Terriers, Squiddly and Diddly – as he sits on an armchair in the house.
In the background, white double doors are visible, while there’s a glimpse of a huge garden where a trimmed lawn, hydrangea bushes, and a tall Leylandii tree hedge can be seen.
In addition to that, there is a wild swimming pond and an indoor pool available. The two boys of the couple, namely Eric, 12, and Adam, 19 (Lauren’s child from a previous relationship), can also be spotted in photos playing with the dogs in the garden.
Locals say Simon and his partner, Lauren, are also often seen riding around the country lanes on their bicycles; she shared a picture of such a bike ride on her social media, and they often pop into the local deli for a coffee and bite to eat.
Simon and Lauren have made themselves well known in the local Cotswold community. Last year, the couple held an exquisite fancy dress party, the proceeds of which were donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital, located in the Great Tew estate, a few feet away from the venue; this was a very posh affair with the highest social class of people attending.
The guests at the event were, amongst others, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and Jeremy Clarkson – with Lisa Hogan being his partner – and he oversaw a fundraising auction which raised more than £1 million.
Simon Cowell Says Cotswolds Life Keeps Family Outdoors
Just after a question came up about the Cotswolds house, the interviewer recalled Simon had commented about the house as ‘a dream come true, and the only thing that I need is my belongings here.’ Simon further said that he ‘rides an electric bike for his morning workout, and a remote-controlled car is his hobby; he also controls a drone… To him, being outdoors is most important; you can walk or ride your bike, and that little bit of an adventure is something I really like doing.’ Simon talked about small villages.
Lauren said the family can spend their time away from devices, as they live in the countryside. Lauren: ‘The things that we do are not related to devices in the way of phones, tablets or computers. We are always either in the open air with children or doing things besides being glued to an online platform, so this lifestyle is both healthy and wholesome. ‘ They live far away from a city.
Because Simon’s home is an English heritage site, it required a heritage conservation plan as per the building codes. The estate planning office submitted a plan and gave an assurance on how it would comply with the traditional building methods of Cotswold and use locally available materials. Their official statement: ‘The proposals do not signify a new style of dealing with a listed building. Rather, they are a development of the method of selective modification of the building which had already been adopted during its previous period as a planned residence, so the whole work is in harmony with the building’s spirit.
The suggestions consist of carefully chosen changes inside and outside the building, aiming to make East Wing more functional in its use while also preserving the historical value of the Listed Building.
‘This construction scheme does not include any enlargement on a level that the building is raised nor any increase in the volume or footprint.’
Council Approves Plans With Three Conditions
The main changes will involve the rearranging of the existing dwelling plus a few changes to the outside openings that the building has.
‘The changes have been suggested by considering the building’s evolution and the massive restoration and reconstruction that have already been given consent and completed at the site,’ it said.
The statement concluded, stating, ‘Based on the arguments raised in this memo, we believe a sympathetic and harmonious type of construction to a small extent will be consistent with the residential use of the property and preserve its historical value. ‘Therefore, both planning permission and listed building consent shall be granted.’
It has only been two years since news broke that the grounds were plagued by moles, which had turned the eight-acre grounds into a Swiss cheese-like terrain, but it is understood that these creatures have left the area.
However, the developers’ completed self-assessment biodiversity form says there are ‘no mammal burrows within 100m’ and ‘no habitat removal is proposed’.
The council approved the proposal last month with no objections received; however, they stipulated that builders must follow three specific conditions: Work has to begin within 3 years, construction materials should be locally sourced as indicated in the plans, and it should be a development that matches the area.
