Cheryl and Liam Payne are determined to carry on with major renovations at their luxury Surrey home despite heavy split rumours.
The pair are said to be only ‘weeks away’ from breaking up and the former One Direction singer – who is worth a reputed £54 million – has apparently consulted lawyers about the financial implications if they’re to finish.
Yet, despite the rumours, they are persisting in their battle with Woking Borough Council for approval to build a new multi-million pound extension which will double the size of their country mansion.
Persevering: Cheryl and Liam Payne are determined to carry on with major renovations at their luxury Surrey home despite heavy split rumours
The couple have submitted numerous planning applications to the council to modify the house in Woking, Surrey, which Liam bought for £5.1 million in March 2015.
In October, the singing pair were refused permission to construct a new garage area, which would have a passageway to the main house, indoor pool area and new guest house.
The garage would have housed their impressive collection of cars including Liam’s £260,000 Lamborghini Aventador – with a top speed of 277mph.
Planners wouldn’t give the green light as the couple wanted to increase the building’s volume from 93.37m3 to 199m3 – a massive 133 per cent rise.
Case Officer Brooke Bougnague ruled: ‘The proposed single storey side and front extensions represent a disproportionate addition over and above the size of the original dwelling and consequently constitutes inappropriate development within the Green Belt.
‘Additionally the scale, bulk and siting of the proposal would appear harmful to the openness of the Green Belt. No very special circumstances have been submitted with the application which would outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.
Expansion: The works would amount to a total increase of 71.8 percent above the cubic content of the original dwelling
Transformation: The couple have submitted numerous planning applications to the council to modify the house in Woking, Surrey, which Liam bought for £5.1 million in March 2015
The proposed extension by reason of its scale, massing and proportions would result in an extension that does not pay due regard to the scale and proportions of the host dwelling which would be detrimental to the appearance of the building and the character and appearance of the streetscene.’
Now they are appealing that decision and a public notice went up on the council website on February 9. The status of the planning application has changed to ‘appeal pending’.
In May 2015, they had a planning application approved for a single storey extension on the main house, which includes a spectacular indoor pool with it’s own tropical plant area, rockery, flowing stream and jacuzzi.
But they changed these plans three months later to include an adjoining basement area, with a gym and games room, which was approved in October 2015.
No building work had begun on the property, before they successfully applied for planning permission in January 2017 to convert the original garage into a guest house, which included a two-spaced garage on the ground floor and an en-suite bedroom on the first, which was rumoured to be for her mother Joan to help look after baby son, Bear.
Under construction: Now they are appealing that decision and a public notice went up on the council website on February 9. The status of the planning application has changed to ‘appeal pending’
This comes amid claims Liam has sought legal advice as friends claim he could split from Cheryl in weeks.
The couple, who are not married but have a son, 11-month-old Bear, and live together in a Surrey mansion, are said to be considering going their separate ways.
MailOnline broke the news that their relationship was ‘under strain’, with Liam, 24, spending nights away from home while the 34-year-old singer looks after their child.
Now it has been reported Liam has spoken to lawyers to see what a split would mean for their shared assets and the care of their son, according to the Sun.
Liam has an estimated fortune of £54million while Cheryl is said to be worth around £20million.
A source close to the couple told the newspaper: ‘Liam has sought some legal advice but he still wants to make it work.It’s just sensible to be prepared for all options.
Moving on? Liam and Cheryl, who raise baby son Bear, are said to be considering going their separate ways
‘With a young son and a number of assets between them there is more to breaking up than just parting ways.
‘He hopes it doesn’t come to it but he’s just being careful.’
The latest claims come just hours after a source told the Mail on Sunday that the pair’s romance is in trouble.
‘It’s very sad – they tried very hard to make it work,’ they said. ‘They’re desperate to make a go of it but it’s absolutely on the rocks.’
A source close to Liam added: ‘It’s very difficult for them and extremely sad. Things go from being very calm to being very tough.
‘The crux of the problem is that Liam has to be away a lot. Cheryl has always understood he would have to work hard and be absent but the reality is that it’s not an easy thing to deal with. This relationship is hanging by a thread. Both of them are devastated.’
Another source close to the couple said: ‘Both of them desperately want it to work but it doesn’t look like things are going to end as they wished.
Leading separate lives: Cheryl, pictured here at St James’ Palace meeting Prince Charles earlier this month, is said to have stayed home to mind the couple’s son while Liam has been on tour
‘Their main concern is Bear and making sure that he remains the happy little boy he is.’
Liam has been away on tour frequently over the past year, promoting his new album while Cheryl is said to have stayed at home looking after baby Bear at their Surrey home.
Recently he has been touring the US and spent time in New York promoting his new single For You, a duet with Rita Ora.
According to reports he has been flying between the US and the UK by private jet in a bid to spend more time with Cheryl, but the pair have not been seen together in public since October.
The new parents are struggling to find quality time together as they juggle their busy careers and care for their 11-month-old son, Bear, the source told MailOnline.
A source has told MailOnline that Cheryl is spending a lot of time at home on her own with Bear because she would rather stay in watching soaps on TV than go out to showbiz parties.
Concerned fans have pointed out that the couple have not been pictured together for some time and were not photographed together on Valentine’s Day.
MailOnline has contacted Cheryl and Liam’s representatives for comment.
Public show of affection? Liam posted an Instagram picture of Bear on Wednesday with the caption: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day @cherylofficial and everyone. Looks like I’ve got the big guy to compete with now’