Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp’s family home is at the centre of a planning row which will see a huge new housing estate built in Wiltshire. The new estate – developed by CG Fry & Son – will border the Grade-II* listed building Vern Leaze, located in Calne, which was once owned by Kirstie’s father – the 6th Baron Hindlip.
Charles Allsopp owned the sprawling manor, which is comprised of 11 bedrooms and valued at an incredible £3.5million in 2021. Charles is the dad of Channel 4 star Kirstie, but was famous in his own right for a record-breaking auction in which Van Gogh’s Sunflowers was sold for £24.75million in 1987, with Charles banging the gavel.
He sold the property in the early 1980s – but now the new planned housing estate is set to border the incredible property, which along with the historic house includes a stables, coach house, walled garden and a lodge.
180 new homes and a medical centre have been planned for the area, with hundreds of local residents objecting to the plans earlier this year.
CG Fry & Son said: "This proposal will contribute towards Wiltshire Council's annual housing requirement, and will provide high quality open market and affordable homes."
A design and access statement read: “Grade II* listed buildings are considered to be of national significance and we have taken care to design the proposed development in such a way that it protects the building and its setting.
“A key part of this is the retention of a large area in the southern part of the development as a parkland style open space.
“This was formerly an area of parkland around the historic house; however, it has lost many of the historic trees that were once part of it.”