Pippa Middleton and James Matthews ordered to remove unauthorised Berkshire car park
Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews, have been ordered to remove an unauthorised car park from their Berkshire estate after their appeal was dismissed. West Berkshire Council said the 4,000-square-foot hard standing was out of keeping with the rural setting, siding with local residents who objected to its impact on the countryside.
The car park was built on a meadow beside the River Kennet at the couple’s £15.5 million Barton Court estate, where they have lived since 2022. Estate representatives said it served fishermen and angling clubs, and that fishing rights provided significant income for maintaining the land; the couple’s dispute with villagers has also involved access to a public path.
In short
- Pippa Middleton and James Matthews must remove the car park.
- The planning appeal was dismissed.
- Officials said it harmed a sensitive rural landscape.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The car park supports anglers and fishing clubs using the estate, and the income from fishing rights helps fund upkeep of the land. Its supporters could argue that providing parking makes access practical while keeping vehicles from causing more scattered disturbance in the countryside.
The case against
A large hard-standing beside the River Kennet can alter the rural character of the meadow and affect the landscape residents value. Opponents could argue that private income from fishing does not justify building without planning permission, and that the rules should apply equally to all landowners.
Explained simply
Pippa Middleton is the sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and is married to James Matthews, a financier. They live at Barton Court, a country estate in Berkshire beside the River Kennet, where fishing is part of the estate’s activities.
The dispute concerns land use in a rural area and how it affects the surrounding countryside and local access. The estate says facilities for visiting anglers help support its upkeep, while nearby residents have raised concerns about changes to the landscape and a public path.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Pippa Middleton and husband told to tear up ‘unsightly’ car park on their Berkshire estate in a victory for local villagers”.