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Singer’s plan for chapel on estate hits snag – he’ll have to let in public
HE Has already faced a battle for permission to build a private chapel on his sprawling estate.
Now Ed sheeran has been told that if he wants to obtain a licence to use it for weddings, he will have to open the building to the public.
The pop star, 28, had his original plans for a chapel, with a spire that would have overshadowed the neighbouring church, rejected last year. He has submitted new proposals featuring a smaller, ark-shaped
‘Wants to use it for family weddings’
building with a leaf-shaped roof. The brick and flint-style structure would have a lead roof, oak floors, stained glass windows and a round tower.
sheeran wants the ‘prayer retreat’ at Framlingham, suffolk, to be a private venue for weddings and christenings of family and close friends. However, the local council says he would have to open it for public use.
Lydia Kirk, clerk of Dennington parish council, said a licence would be required under the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (approved Premises) Regulations 2005.
This states that premises granted a licence, which is valid for three years, ‘must be regularly available to the public for use for the solemnisation of marriage and/or the formation of civil partnerships’.
sheeran’s planning agents, Donald Insall associates, said the proposed building would ‘address an important need for a private place of retreat for contemplation and prayer’. They said it would also be used for the ‘celebration of key life and family milestones, family and social gatherings, marriages, christenings, and so forth’.
They added: ‘The proposed building would be a space truly ancillary to the main house, but apart from it in order to provide calm and separation.’ The estate, dubbed ‘sheeranville’, consists of five properties worth £3.7million, including the farmhouse and surrounding land bought for £895,000 in June 2012, the 16th century Grade II-listed house next door and a four-bedroom detached home in front of the farmhouse.
sheeran, who is said to be worth £170million, has added a wildlife pond, giant treehouse, underground music room, cinema and outdoor hot tub, as well as a pub linked to the main house by a tunnel. He has submitted plans to create an outdoor kitchen and party area. His spokesman was contacted for comment.