Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner are installing beefed-up gates at the land adjoining their Grade II-listed mansion – after sparking fury with their neighbours over plans to build a second swimming pool next to the village graveyard.
The Spice Girl, 52, and F1 Red Bull boss, 51, have applied to shift their current boundary back from the road and install stone posts on either side, replacing the current timber set-up.
The high-flying pair say the move at their Northamptonshire pad is to provide a ‘waiting bay’ in the recessed entry for agricultural land – which they hope will help with safety for larger agricultural and equestrian vehicles.
In May 2023 the globe-trotting couple had their first horse-racing win, with a steed named after the Spice Girls’ 1999 No 1 single – Two Become Won.
And over the last year they have gone from success to success – Lift Me Up, again named after one of the pop star’s songs, galloped on resolutely to pocket the £2,053.20 prize at the Hunters’ Chase last week.
The new design will replace the current wooden gate posts with cut stone piers, complete with iron finials. The wall leading to the gates will be cut ironstone and the gates will be made of oak.
It comes after the Horners sparked fury among their rural community when they embarked on a planning war to replace their 18th century kitchen garden with an open-air swimming pool.
Their proposal was branded the ‘height of disrespect’ by neighbours who were left fuming that the pool might spoil the quiet of the tiny village – with one saying that funerals in the local church could be interrupted by ‘screaming, shouting and splashing’.
It came just ten years after Christian applied to build a different swimming pool in a barn across the road from their luxury pad. He confirmed that it had been built in an interview with Luxury London in 2019, where he said he was trying to get it ready in time for the British Grand Prix.
The small-town drama rumbled on amid Horner’s Red Bull scandal, where campaign groups backed a female employee who was suspended after she raised a complaint about the Team Principal over inappropriate sex texts. Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The application for the new gates – made in late December – will feature a pair of English-composition ironstone gate-pier ball finials above cut stone piers and a new oak gate.
The walls to either side will be cut ironstone wall, with planting behind.
The application says: ‘The proposed rearrangement and replacement of the estate gates align with both agricultural rights under permitted development, as outlined in the relevant planning history and legislation section.
‘The planned rearrangement works, which include the installation of a new oak gate, stone piers, and increased gate setback, will provide safer access to the estate while improving the overall aesthetic of this part of the property and area.
‘The design carefully considers the nearby heritage conservation area and complements the agricultural use of the land.
‘This proposal meets all necessary requirements for agricultural development on land of this size and will contribute positively to the safety, functionality, and appearance of the property.’
The mansion already has five bedrooms, with one each for the couple and the three children they have between them, alongside a spare bedroom.
It also already has a stunning indoor pool set in one of the barns, complete with a gymnasium and changing facilities.
Complaining to the council about the couple’s previous request, one neighbour raged: ‘The proposed open air swimming pool does not only affect my house but also the Church which is directly opposite the proposed site.
‘Many local families attend the Church and of course the Rector conducts weddings, baptisms and funerals.
‘It would be the height of disrespect to be standing in the Churchyard during an internment to be distracted by screaming, shouting and splashing from a short distance away.’
But the council batted away these complaints – saying the proposed works are ‘minor alterations’ and there is no ‘sound reason’ to refuse the plan.
They also note that there is another swimming pool already present to the north of the church, at roughly the same distance from the graveyard as the Horners’ plans.
Officers said: ‘Therefore, even if the swimming pool noise was considered to be harmful, it would not be viewed to cause any further risk of noise impact on the Church of St. Lawrence than the existing pool to the north.’
They continued: ‘From a planning perspective, the use of a swimming pool in the rear garden of a property would raise no further concern than the ordinary everyday use of a garden.
‘Swimming pools can ordinarily be constructed without planning permission enabling homeowners to enjoy their garden areas.
‘Should the use of the pool result in late night parties and loud music, then this would be subject to control through the Environmental Health legislation.’
In the original documents, the couple said the works to the historic family home are being done in an effort to modernise the grounds – as they hope to ‘enhance’ its ‘unique character’.
The 40ft by 16ft pool is being built complete with a fountain, topiary, sunbeds and a 6ft-deep end alongside their greenhouse and to the side of the main home, the plans show.
Many of the documents were submitted on January 2 last year – days after Christian was named in the New Years List for services to Motor Sport following another victorious season at Red Bull.
And just a month later – on February 5 – Red Bull Racing’s parent company GmbH confirmed Horner was under investigation following an accusation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’, for which he was later cleared.
The woman, in her 40s, went to HR at the Formula 1 team after she received the messages from Horner – who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – often late at night.
She accused him of ‘coercive behaviour’ but an internal inquiry chaired by an unknown KC appointed by Red Bull cleared him. Horner has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The application in January came just a year after the couple applied to expand their mansion with a whole new floor as the planning application stating they need more room for their ‘growing family.’
The previous application also included plans to revitalise the celebrity duo’s stunning walled garden – retaining the existing topiary where possible but adding a new vegetable and rose garden complete with tree arches.
Maps show areas of the garden mapped out for raised beds, an apple or rose walk, vegetable growing and even a fruit cage.
Other planned details include a bespoke bullnose paving surround for the pool, an outside shower and storage for the cushions on their sunbeds.
The couple’s design and access statement said: ‘The primary objective of this proposal is to introduce an outdoor swimming pool that complements the existing property, providing a functional and aesthetically pleasing addition to the rear garden.
‘The proposal seeks to rejuvenate the current walled garden with the existing topiary and design axis informing the character and design of the new layout.
‘The existing greenhouse, and a small stone outbuilding will be preserved, and incorporated into the proposal.’
They continued: ‘We believe the proposed swimming pool and associated landscaping will provide new purpose and focus to the walled garden in a manner which is sensitive and appropriate to the character and setting of the property.’
The former pop star and racing boss have been revamping their pad over the last few years, with a replacement to their glasshouse and conversion of the dovecote also up for planning permission in 2022.
The new west wing extension would have sat above what would have been the servants’ wing, which was built in 1840.
Alongside a huge lawn, the Horners’ house boasts two kitchen gardens, two paved terraces and stables.
The house features a large oval dining room, an orangery, a huge wood-panelled study and a conservatory.
The couple have previously been slammed by locals as they sought part retrospective planning permission after replacing their barn.
One neighbour said: ‘The advent of a mezzanine floor has clearly increased the height and pitch of the roof, although not the footprint of the building.
‘The overhead image shows that the new metal roof is now very light in colour and thus, with increased pitch, has become far more visually prominent.
‘Had a planning application been submitted prior to the rebuild we would have commented and requested that consideration be given to the dominant appearance of the barn.
‘We would have requested that the barn be no larger than the barn it was to replace and the roofing material to be used should be less visually intrusive.
‘We hope therefore that now the barn has been built retrospective action can be immediately taken to partially screen the barn and the incongruous industrial-looking roof through the planting of and subsequent maintenance of large suitably located and fast growing native trees.’