Guy Ritchie is being forced to restore a 300-year-old outhouse on his £9m country estate to its former glory after building an al fresco dining area without permission, Mail Online can reveal.
The film director converted the 18th century outbuilding in 2016 so that guests, such as Hollywood star Brad Pitt, staying at Ashcombe House in Wiltshire could enjoy outside dining around a wood burning stove.
But a local resident spotted the renovations on a social media post and complained the Grade II listed building was protected by law. A subsequent investigation found he had not sought planning permission.
Ritchie, 50, has now submitted a report to the council in which he promises to reverse many of the modifications and seeks retrospective planning permission for the rest, MailOnline can reveal. The cost is expected to run into the thousands.
Guy Ritchie is being forced to restore a 300-year-old building on his £9 million country estate Ashcombe House to its former glory after building a southern facing al fresco dining area without permission (above)
Ashcombe House, which set in more than 1,000 acres of the Wiltshire-Dorset border, has been owned by Ritchie since 2001 when he bought the property with his then wife Madonna for £9 million. The disputed Orangery lies behind the main house, at the top of the picture
The film director converted the 18th century Orangery in 2016 so that guests could enjoy outside dining around a wood burning stove. A picture posted on social media (above) prompted a local resident to complain about the changes to the Grade II listed building
The resident compared the social media post with a similar picture (above) and realised the Orangery had been significantly altered. A subsequent investigation by the planning authorities found no planning permission had been sought
Ritchie, 50, (pictured with his second wife Jackie Ainsley) has now submitted a report to the council in which he pledges to reverse many of the modifications and seeks retrospective planning permission for the rest
These changes include:
– Reinstating a sloped, cobbled floor which had been replaced by a smoother, tiled floor. He will also remove double wooden doors which blocked two arched entrances leading into the building.
– Removing a fabric awning that was attached over the southern entrance of the building.
– Reinstating an original oval window that had been replaced by a square one on the north side of the building.
– Removing an extension which held an en-suite bathroom for guests and replacing it with a ‘more appropriate extension’ built according to planning permission.
However the film director intends to keep a wooden stove system that has been built on the southern side of the Orangery for outside heating and dining.
Richie is also applying for retrospective planning permission to keep a new garage close to the Orangery which houses a laundry.
Ritchie first bought Ashcombe House, which is set in more than 1,000 acres of the Wiltshire-Dorset border, in 2001 for £9 million during his marriage to Madonna.
The Orangery is adjacent to the main house and Ritche has grassed over the driveway linking the two.
Ritchie has grassed over the driveway which links the Orangery to the main house. As part of his new plans, he will remove a fabric awning that was attached over the south entrance of the building (above) and reinstate an original window. He wants to keep the wood burning stove
He will also remove an ‘incongruous’ balcony (above) at the other end of the Orangery, restore an original window extension and apply for a more sympathetic extension for an en-suite bathroom for guests
He has applied for a more modest extension to the building (far right) to replace the balcony
Ritchie and first wife Madonna (above in 2008) revelled in their roles as the ‘lord and lady’ of the manor when they first bought Ashcombe. Following their divorce in 2008 Ritchie kept the house as part of a £50 million settlement
He and second wife Jackie Ainsley have since expanded and improved the estate and used the 1,134 acres as an international shooting venue. His most recent work includes converting disused stables into accommodation for guests and he has also added two lakes. Pictured: Brad Pitt in front of the Orangery
Ritchie and Madonna revelled in their roles as the ‘lord and lady’ of the manor with Madonna when they first bought Ashcombe.
Following their divorce in 2008 Ritchie kept the house as part of a £50 million settlement.
He has since expanded and improved the estate and used the 1,134 acres as an international shooting venue.
His most recent work includes converting disused stables into accommodation for guests and he has also added two lakes.
A successful microbrewery called Gritchie beer has been set up in old farm buildings with the addition of a gin distillery.
Ritchie and his second wife former model Jacqui Ainsley divide their time between Ashcombe and a property in London.
The alterations to the Orangery were first noticed by a local resident familiar with Ashcombe House in 2017 after they spotted a photo posted on Instagram by one of Ritchie’s staff.
The photograph showed the new south facing outside dining area under a fabric awning with a wood burning stove and two chimneys.
It also showed that the open passageway through the Orangery had been closed in with double doors. Part of a sloping cobblestone floor had been taken up and replaced with a smooth, level tiled floor.
The alterations were first noticed by a local resident who spotted a photo posted on Instagram by one of Ritchie’s staff. The photograph showed the new south facing outside dining area under a fabric awning with a wood burning stove and two chimneys
The resident contacted a preservation society called The Georgian Group. They informed local planning officers who visited the property in February 2018 and inspected the alterations made. Pictured: A young Cecil Beaton leaning against a wall at Ashcombe House
Ritchie then commissioned a company specialising in heritage work to ‘make good works undertaken in good faith but without the necessary consents of permissions’
After checking the local planning website the resident contacted a preservation society called The Georgian Group.
They informed local planning officers who visited the property in February 2018 and inspected the alterations made without planning permission.
According to Historic England, it is a criminal offence to carry out alterations to a building of special architectural or historic interest such as the Grade II-listed Orangery.
It says consent must be sought for any demolition, alteration or extension. It is a criminal offence not to seek consent and you cannot claim you didn’t know.
Ritchie then commissioned a firm specialising in heritage work to restore the property back to its original condition and ‘make good works undertaken in good faith but without the necessary consents of permissions.’
The firm’s 33-page report, which is publicly available, said a number of re-adjustments would ‘reinstate the historic, architectural and aesthetic significance of the building’.
Council chiefs will make a decision on the planning application later this month.
The Georgian Society said it was pleased much of the work was being reversed but concerned that Ritchie intended to keep the wood burning stove.
A spokeswoman said: ‘The Georgian Group welcomes the majority of the proposals – particularly the restoration of the carriage way, and notes that the while it is a shame that the driveway no longer follows its original route, it is a considerable improvement on the current state of affairs.
The firm’s 33-page report, which is publicly available, said a number of re-adjustments would ‘reinstate the historic, architectural and aesthetic significance of the building’
Council chiefs will make a decision on the planning application (above) later this month. The Georgian Society said it was pleased the work was being reversed but concerned that Ritchie intended to keep the wood burning stove
It is not the first time Ritchie has clashed with planners over Ashcombe House. Shortly after buying it the film director erected a 12ft security fence which he was later allowed to keep after saying it was to ensure his privacy
In 2012 he had to apply for retrospective planning for unauthorised work carried out on the Orangery when he turned the building into accommodation for guests staying on the estate
‘The presence of a stove in a carriageway is incongruous and would be in the way for any future attempts to put the driveway back to its original positioning.’
It is not the first time Ritchie has clashed with planners over Ashcombe House.
Shortly after buying it the film director erected a 12ft security fence which he was later allowed to keep after saying it was to ensure his privacy.
And in 2012 he had to apply for retrospective planning for unauthorised work carried out on the Orangery when he turned the building into accommodation for guests staying on the estate.
The director, close friends with David Beckham, is currently completing a new crime caper called Bush and starring Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey.
Architect Tim Reeve declined to comment as did a spokesman for Ritchie.