Boris Johnson plans to demolish the Downton Abbey-style servants’ quarters at his £4million mansion
BORIS Johnson has submitted plans to demolish the Downton Abbey-style servants’ quarters at his £4million mansion.
The former Tory prime minister says he wants to modernize his country retreat for the “democratic age when families no longer rely on live-in staff”.
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The new application comes after it was given the green light to build a swimming pool on the site – despite claims from ecologist Edward Church that it would pose a risk to a newt colony.
It states that the southern ground floor needs to be redesigned after it “became disjointed over several phases of renovation.”
Boris, 59, his wife Carrie, 35, and their three children have settled into the nine-bedroom Brightwell Manor in South Oxon as he faces scrutiny over his handling of the Covid pandemic.
They now want to demolish and rebuild a single-storey extension built for the servants of the listed family estate to create a larger boot room and an extended terrace.
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They also want a gated entrance to increase the security of the property.
Documents published online by South Oxfordshire District Council add: “As there are very young children, access to the property needs to be made more secure.”
Proposals include an electrically operated gate with a video call entry system – saying the current entrance could be mistaken for a public access road.
Further planning advice suggests the extension will include a new scullery, laundry, pantry, breakfast room and a ‘tech room’.
Locals have not yet commented on the plan.
The Johnsons bought the 400-year-old Brightwell Manor in February.