# Former Starbucks franchise owner must remove court and gym after planning appeal loss

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/starbucks-millionaire-ordered-to-dig-up-tennis-court-and-home-gym-after-his-planning-application-is-scuppered-by-wifes-herd-of-alpacas/
- Published: 2026-10-22T10:54:21+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-22T11:04:37+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16229351/Starbucks-millionaire-ordered-dig-tennis-court-home-gym-planning-application-scuppered-wifes-herd-alpacas.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Sport, Tennis, World

## Key points

- Planning appeal over leisure facilities on agricultural land was rejected.
- A court and home gym must be removed within six months.
- A railway carriage is allowed to stay.

## Summary

Mark Hepburn, a businessman who formerly owned a company operating 110 Starbucks franchises, has lost an appeal over leisure facilities built on agricultural land behind his home in Durley, Hampshire. A planning inspector ruled there was insufficient evidence that the field had been used as a garden for the required period and said the development harmed the rural character of the area.

Hepburn has six months to remove the tennis and netball court, home gym and other structures, while a railway carriage may remain. He said the previous owners had used the land as an extensive garden and that his family kept alpacas there as pets. Neighbours argued the land had historically been used for horticulture and pasture.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.