and have finally won approval for an extension to their £2 million Dartmoor mansion after a six month long dispute with planning authorities. The couple initially submitted their application to the Dartmoor National Park Planning Authority in August 2024. They hoped to carry out an extensive renovation on their Grade II listed home. However, what should have been a straightforward process quickly escalated into a drawn-out planning row.
Their proposal aimed to “reinforce the setting and significance” of the historic property, but it faced pushback from a building conservation officer. In an official statement, the officer argued that the proposed changes would provide “no benefit” to the public. They stated: “As the application currently stands the impact of the proposals on the significance of the listed buildings and their setting has not been minimised.” After these initial objections, Saunders and Edmondson engaged in half a year of negotiations with the local authority before finally securing “conditional approval” for their plans.
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Jennifer Saunders and Adrian Edmondson faced a long battle to renovate their house (Image: Getty)
The mansion where the couple has lived for the past 30 years already features an expansive garden, a swimming pool, and a detached cottage. Now the approved renovations will add even more amenities, including a brand-new garden pavilion and a dedicated pottery studio.
The planning documents describe the pottery workspace as “a space to facilitate the client’s personal interests,” while the garden pavilion will provide a “covered outdoor dining space” in a discreet location at the end of their large garden.
The couple also plans to install EV chargers for their Tesla within a designated car parking building.
A comprehensive “site-wide energy strategy” has also been developed to help preserve the historic property, which includes some of the oldest recorded tenements in the area. The strategy will incorporate solar panels and a “hybrid system using air source heat pumps” to improve the home’s sustainability.
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The couple have now been allowed to make changes to their mansion (Image: Getty)
The couple want to make these upgrades because they plan to spend more time in Devon now, after previously dividing their time between the countryside and London.
A statement from Dartmoor National Park Planning Authority explained the process behind the eventual approval, saying: “All planning applications undergo a review process in which DNPA officers evaluate whether the proposal meets the requirements of the Dartmoor Local Plan.
“Regarding the application you have enquired about, consultation responses were considered, and officers have worked proactively to find solutions which resulted in the application being considered acceptable.”
Now the approval is in place, construction is expected to start soon.