Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner have been accused of trolling their neighbours with fairy lights on an allegedly illegal pergola at their mansion.
The celebrity pair have infuriated local residents after building a pergola and gazebo at the back of their UK home in Northamptonshire, The Sun reports.
Both developments have been described as spoiling the view “to and from” the grade-I listed church opposite their property, according to planning officials.
The Spice Girl and former Red Bull F1 boss previously saw their retrospective permission application refused for the structures built at the back of their countryside house.
The couple have submitted a second planning application to retain the “illegally” built pergola.
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Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner have been accused of trolling their neighbours. Picture: Formula One/Getty
The pergola, which has been built next to a swimming pool that was previously approved, is described to be an “open framed oak beam structure”.
But neighbours have been left furious, claiming the couple have “trolled” them after putting fairy lights on the pergola, according to The Times.
“It is like we are being trolled as the black wired wrapped-around fairy lights over the length of the pergola are still in situ,” they said.
“If that is not rubbing our noses in it and showing complete disregard for the planning process I don’t know what is. Any ordinary person would have been forced to tear it all down.”
Several neighbours have also submitted objections to the application.
Another questioned why action hadn’t been taken sooner to stop the development and added: “This was once a beautiful quaint property and plot in this conservation area. Where are you inspectors, or do the rules not apply here?”
Their building work has left neighbours “disgruntled”. Picture: Getty
This time around the couple have applied only for the pergola to stay.
Their fresh planning application made no reference to the previous refusal, but states they’ve received pre-application advice, which suggests they’re confident of it being permitted.
They claim to have added “climbing and structural planting” around the pergola to “soften the appearance” and “reducing its visual impact”.
Their design statement said: “The proposal has been carefully designed to ensure that it remains clearly subordinate to the main house and does not result in harm to its significance or setting. The pergola is freestanding and lightweight in form, constructed from natural oak.”
It went on to add: “The use of oak reflects traditional garden structures and ensures the proposal sits comfortably within a historic landscape context.
“The open nature of the pergola avoids the introduction of built mass and ensures that key views of the house and garden are retained.”
It’s not the only development at the couple’s home that has sparked objection either.
The celebrity couple had already built the structures next to their swimming pool. Picture: Instagram
The pair are currently awaiting a decision for a horse walker at their stables which houses 14 horses.
They were also granted permission for a first floor extension, replacement barn and a greenhouse three years ago and have also built an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
But neighbours are sick of the ongoing developments at the property with one telling The Times it doesn’t “represent what a conservation area is supposed to be”.
They said residents were “disgruntled” and cited daily noise from construction works.
Forrest Childs from Northamptonshire Council previously said: “Both structures are located between the grade II listed house and grade-I listed church.
“Whilst noted as well-constructed the pergola lies in direct sight of the church when viewed from this garden area to the east of the house and detracts from views of the church which is Grade I listed and therefore impacts its setting.
“The Grade I listed church was considered to have an unspoilt immediate setting prior to the construction of these buildings.”
He added that the gazebo is around 1.3m above the boundary wall and is visible to the public while the pergola is below and cannot be seen but is “prominent within the immediate setting of the listed dwelling”.
Halliwell and husband Horner married in 2017. Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
Outlining the reason for refusal, he added: “The proposed development, by reason its size, positioning and appearance, would result in an unacceptable form of development, and would be considered an unsympathetic addition within the curtilage of the listed building.”
Also, objecting to the scheme was the council’s heritage and conservation team, who said: “Whilst well-constructed the pergola lies in direct sight of the church when viewed from this garden area to the east of the house and detracts from views of the church which Grade I listed and therefore impacts is setting.”
It remains unclear whether they have, or intend, to remove the gazebo.
The heritage team added: “It is worth also noting a pizza oven has been constructed in red brick with flue.
“Based on its construction I would consider this development.
“This flue is also visible over the wall and which cumulatively is considered to have a harmful impact of the setting of the listed building.”
Enforcement action could require them to pull the pergola and gazebo down.
The Sun has approached Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner’s representatives for comment.
Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
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