Inside Ab Fab star Jennifer Saunders’ Grand Designs style home makeover as she splashes out £250k on pool for £2m home
ABSOLUTELY Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders has unveiled plans for a Grand Designs-style makeover of her historic Devon farmhouse – complete with a pottery and music studio.
The actress and comedian is splashing out on a new heated swimming pool at the £2million manor house she shares with comedy actor husband Adrian Edmondson.
The couple bought the five-acre estate in 2002 and lived there with daughters Ella, Beattie and Freya. It has a separate two-bedroom cottage, workshops, marquee lawn and walled garden.
But now they want to turn it into a dream home and are planning a major £250,000 overhaul of the Grade II listed property.
Jennifer and Adrian, who starred in Bottom and The Young Ones, plan to extend an existing workshop to turn it into a dedicated pottery workspace and build a new oak framed garden pavilion for outside dining.
The couple also want to build a new entrance, parking and turning area to take cars away from the house – ‘reinforcing its significance and enhancing its setting’.
Other proposed works include a hybrid oil and air source heat pump system, repairs to a leaking laundry, new kitchen units, a bigger cottage living room, new potting shed and moving a greenhouse.
The couple have formally applied to the local council for various landscaping and construction works, and need consent because their home is listed.
In a statement to the council, their planning agent said: “Jennifer and Adrian have lived at [the manor] for over 30 years. Their work has meant that the couple split their time between London and Devon.
“However, Jennifer and Adrian anticipate in the coming years reducing the amount of time spent away from home and living full time at [the manor].
“They wish to make some sensitive alterations to the existing outbuildings to better suit their current needs and lifestyles.”
Saunders, 66, and Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanna Lumley have reunited after 12 years for a new Ab Fab special due to be aired on Gold next week (October 17).
The hit BBC series followed PR boss Edina, played by Saunders, and retired model Patsy, played by Dame Joanna, as they tried to relive their youth in 1960s London by chasing 90s fads and indulging in heavy drinking and drugs.
Their hedonistic lifestyle constantly led to personal crises which were eventually solved by Eddie’s daughter Saffy, played by Natalie Sawalha.
Ab Fab made a three-episode return between 2011 and 2012 to celebrate its 20th anniversary and in 2016 a film based on the series was released.
Saunders’ Devon home, a former longhouse built from granite rubble, is believed to have been used as a rest house during the Middle Ages.
Her planning agent added: ‘This application aims to enhance the functionality, sustainability and aesthetic appeal of the property while respecting its historical significance and natural surroundings.
‘The proposed works have been carefully designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing structures and landscape, ensuring the continued preservation and enjoyment of this valuable heritage asset within the Dartmoor National Park.’
Officials at Dartmoor Council were initially concerned about the loss of an historic entrance so the existing gateway will be kept as a pedestrian access.
The originally proposed covered parking area has also been significantly reduced and replaced with a simple oak pergola to “preserve the open character of the area”.
Two air source heat pumps will be installed, one to serve the main house and the other for the cottage, workshops and pool.
Solar panels will also be added to the roof of the workshops to “minimise visual impact”.
A decision on the revamp is expected later this month and there have so far been no objections from neighbours.