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Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s plans for a quieter life in the English countryside have encountered an unexpected planning complication. A two-storey summerhouse on the couple’s sprawling Hampshire estate is facing scrutiny over its use as residential accommodation, decades after permission was granted for a very different purpose. According to The Independent and portsmouth, which reported the planning dispute on October 16, 2026, the Hollywood actor has applied for a certificate of lawfulness to establish that the building can continue to be used as accommodation associated with the main house. Planning records from the New Forest National Park Authority identify the application as relating to an existing use, rather than a proposal to create a separate home. The issue centres on a planning condition dating back to February 1973, when the outbuilding was approved as a swimming-pool pavilion, with space for plant and filtration equipment, changing facilities, a sitting room and a small boathouse. Its present-day residential use goes beyond that original purpose.
Inside the summerhouse at the Hampshire estate
The building is now configured as a self-contained guest space, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a fitted kitchen, a dining area and a living room. The application states that these facilities have been in place since at least February 2012, when the property was owned by its previous owners, John and Kim Buckland.The former owners reportedly continued using the summerhouse as residential accommodation after purchasing the estate in 2012 and carried out refurbishment work in late 2018. The planning submission states that the layout has remained unchanged since further refurbishment in 2019. Statham and Huntington-Whiteley acquired the property in March 2024 and have since used the building for visitors, according to the application. The dispute is therefore not about the construction of a new outbuilding, but whether the existing use can be recognised as lawful despite the older planning restriction.The couple are seeking a certificate of lawful development on the grounds that the residential use has continued for more than a decade. The application argues that the length of time involved places the use beyond the period in which planning enforcement action can be taken. That claim remains subject to the planning authority’s assessment of the evidence.
A coastal property with extensive grounds
The summerhouse is part of a substantial waterfront estate near Beaulieu, in the New Forest National Park. The property was reportedly purchased for around £20 million, with construction costs estimated at a further £5 million. Its value has also been reported at approximately £25 million.Architects Ben Pentreath and Nicholas Umney designed the modern six-bedroom main house. The property has a U-shaped design, with the rooms arranged around a central courtyard and a lap pool. It also offers views of the Solent. Outside, the estate has a private beach stretching about 1,200 feet, along with a lake, stables, a gym, a yoga studio and a large treehouse.The estate’s architecture combines modern planning with traditional materials intended to complement the surrounding coastal woodland. Its secluded setting was reportedly a major attraction for Huntington-Whiteley, who has previously spoken about her longstanding desire to live in the countryside.
Previous planning changes at the estate
The summerhouse application follows another planning decision involving the property. In July 2026, Statham secured permission for changes to the driveway and the removal of a small section of the lake to make way for a wildflower meadow. The proposal had prompted ecological concerns about the potential impact on great crested newts.The most recent application pertains to a distinct matter: it evaluates whether an outbuilding that was initially granted approval for purposes related to leisure can legally continue to operate as guest accommodation. It is crucial to note that this application does not request approval to create an independent dwelling unit, highlighting the importance of this distinction since the summerhouse is intended to remain ancillary to the primary residence.Reports indicate that the New Forest National Park Authority expressed concerns during pre-application discussions held in March 2025, suggesting that the current use of the outbuilding could be in violation of the original planning condition. Furthermore, they hinted that the passage of time might influence the feasibility of pursuing enforcement action. As of now, the authority has not yet reached a conclusion regarding the certificate application. Consequently, until a final decision is reached, the summerhouse’s ongoing residential use will continue to be scrutinized under a planning review framework, rather than being recognized as an officially sanctioned change of use. The decision could also clarify the extent to which long-established uses of older outbuildings can be recognised under current planning rules.What are your views on this? Tell us in the comments section below.
