Former Ginger Spice Geri Horner has been given planning permission for a barn to house 14 horses but it has not gone down well with her neighbours.

Geri, 50, and her husband, F1 boss Christian Horner, applied for part-retrospective planning permission as they had already started building the barn at their country estate near Banbury.

One letter of objection said: "The barn has affected mobile phone signals in the village without a doubt."

Another described the barn as "a hideous blight on the landscape and does not conform."

Others said it "destroys landscapes and views" while other villagers said the wealthy couple are flouting the rules.

One said: "They have even re-routed public footpaths and installed their own style gates, how is that being allowed?"

Planning documents say the old barn "is being replaced with a new barn of the same form and scale with stone plinth walls, timber cladding (Cedar) and a corrugated metal roof."

Ms Horner has undergone a style transformation since she married the boss of the Red Bull F1 team in 2015.

In the 90s when the Spice Girls saw global success, Geri was known for her loud and confident persona as well as her short Union Jack dress. 

Always a keen horsewoman she celebrated her first winner as an owner, with a horse named after her hit solo single Lift Me Up, in May.

West Northamptonshire Council permitted the building on condition it is used for private equestrian and land management uses only and no commercial use, including riding lessons, tuition, livery or competitions at any time.

In addition no additional external lights or floodlights shall be erected on the land or building 'without the prior express planning permission of the Local Planning Authority'.

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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