Former US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her flood-hit £22million Cotswolds home.
Ellen and her partner Portia De Rossi bought Kitesbridge Farm near Burford for £15million in 2024 and spent a reported £7.5million on external and internal renovations.
But they moved out after less than a month to find somewhere more suitable to indulge in Portia’s passion for horses.
It was thought they would sell the home when it was listed last July but it failed to attract a buyer and was plagued by flooding from the River Windrush, that ran through the 43 acre site.
There had been reports that a sale was ‘close’ after she had ‘secretly’ slashed £4.5million off the £22million asking price and the house was taken off the market as a condition of sale.
Now, planning documents published on Friday reveal they have ambitions to make it their ‘long term home’ if their bid for new stables is successful.
In a design and access statement to support their application to West Oxfordshire District Council, their representatives said: ‘The applicants carried out a successful renovation of the house last year and wish to make this their long term home.
‘One of their passions is horses and although the building group is large, there is no provision for horses or for their training and bringing up.
‘This application seeks to address this in as sensitive a way as possible.’
Ellen and her partner Portia De Rossi bought Kitesbridge Farm near Burford for £15million in 2024 and spent a reported £7.5million on external and internal renovations
It was thought they would sell the home when it was listed last July but it failed to attract a buyer and was plagued by flooding from the River Windrush, that ran through the 43 acre site
Now, planning documents published on Friday reveal they have ambitions to make it their ‘long term home’ if their bid for new stables is successful
The full planning application, that seeks to knock down an agricultural building and build stables in its place, will be considered by West Oxfordshire District Council.
Ellen has previously spoken about the need for a home with a horse facility and said in a previous statement: ‘When we decided to live here full time, we knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses.
‘We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.’
The planning application described the pair as ‘horse owners’ who require stabling for their horses.
The proposed building would provide space for two loose boxes and the storage of all associated equestrian paraphernalia within a single building.
Drawings show it is of vernacular design, to be built in stone with a pitched tile roof and has been designed to appear as a natural complement to the group of buildings.
The application added: ‘There are no nearby neighbours and thus no impact on residential amenity that would result from the provision of stabling.’
The application reveals options were explored which considered the larger American barn style, or a group of smaller byre ranges forming a U shape.
It added: ‘Both are traditional per se, but the American barn was felt to be too large and might easily dominate the pleasing building cluster to the west; a U shaper byre range conversely not providing the cover and practicality required.
‘Hence, the “in-between” option is proposed, a traditional stone building, single range, built in the local vernacular, so as to blend in to the existing building group.’
Ellen’s representatives said the building had been carefully sited to align centrally with the granary barn to the north and byre range to the south to ‘create a pleasing viewpoint on approach.’
The statement added: ‘The building largely designs itself: sufficiently wide to provide stabling and cross-ties, and tack room at one end and feed/storage at the other.
‘A first-floor level is provided, accessed by tallet steps. This is really the resulting space from the design of the building, and would be used as a hayloft or for storage, but is not central to this application.
‘Overall, when comparing the existing shed against the proposed stable building, it is likely the traditionally designed stone building would sit better in the landscape, and appear to belong more coherently to the adjacent building group.’
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Drawings show it is of vernacular design, to be built in stone with a pitched tile roof and has been designed to appear as a natural complement to the group of buildings
The full planning application, that seeks to knock down an agricultural building and build stables in its place, will be considered by West Oxfordshire District Council
Ellen and her partner Portia moved out after less than a month to find somewhere more suitable to indulge in Portia’s passion for horses
There had been reports that a sale was ‘close’ after she had ‘secretly’ slashed £4.5million off the £22million asking price and the house was taken off the market as a condition of sale (Pictured: Flooding at Ellen and Portia’s property)
The statement included a plea for planners at the council to approve the application as ‘quickly as possible.’
It concluded: ‘The stable building has been sensitively designed, sited and orientated, to reduce visual massing and tie the new stable building into the existing building group.
‘Indeed when comparing the existing agricultural shed – which is to be demolished – against the proposed stable building, it is likely the traditionally designed stone building would sit better and belong more coherently to the adjacent building group.
‘Overall we feel this scheme would give great enjoyment and amenity to the site without any significant harm, especially alongside the removal of the agricultural shed, and accordingly we hope this meets with officer approval. ‘
No representations or public comments have so far been received and the application will be determined by West Oxfordshire Council at a later date.
