Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews, have been ordered by West Berkshire Council to dismantle an unauthorized car park constructed on their estate in Kintbury, Berkshire. The couple’s 4,000 square foot hardstanding area was built last year on a meadow adjacent to the River Kennet without obtaining the necessary planning permission.

The ruling followed complaints from local residents who criticized the development as an example of countryside "urbanisation" that detracted from the rural character of the village. Council planners found the car park to be inconsistent with the surrounding landscape, describing it as an "urbanising and visually intrusive feature" within the sensitive North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

Ms. Middleton, the sister of the Princess of Wales, and her husband, a hedge fund manager, own the land as part of the £15.5 million, 145-acre Barton Court estate where they have resided since 2022. The incident adds to ongoing tensions between the couple and the villagers, who previously expressed discontent when a public right of way through the estate was blocked, restricting access for local walkers and dog owners.

Officials sided with the objectors, who argued that the car park had been created to relocate unsightly vehicle parking away from the couple’s main residence, thus compromising the visual heritage and enjoyment of the area for other local residents. One villager described the fencing and gravel installation as "the urbanisation of the countryside" and "totally out of keeping" with the rural environment. Another criticized the move as prioritizing the interests of the estate owners at the expense of Kintbury’s heritage.

Representatives for the Barton Court estate defended the car park, stating it was intended for the use of fishermen and angling clubs. They explained that income from the sale of fishing rights along the river was a significant source of funding that supported the overall maintenance of the estate’s land.

The couple’s subsequent appeal to overturn the council’s decision was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate, which determined that the development had caused harm to the rural landscape. The meadow in question was previously known locally as grazing land for two heavy horses, Monty and Drummer, before the property changed ownership.

This dispute highlights the challenges faced when private landowners make alterations in areas designated for their natural and scenic value, balancing private interests with community and environmental concerns.