BIDS TO GIVE ALASTAIR, 11, WATER AID
How do you turn your promising son into an Olympic swimmer? If you’re Rod Stewart, you build him a 20m pool in the garden
Plans submitted to Epping Forest District Council say the swimming pool will be 20m long and will incorporate changing facilities, a bar and a dining area. The design statement added: “It is not unusual for the owners of such impressive properties to desire a private swimming facility for their personal use. The pool is also designed as a training pool for the owner’s son, who is achieving high level performance in competitive swimming, hence the size and shape of the pool.
“The other use is for the recreational and entertaining benefit. There would be absolutely no potential or architectural justification to incorporate a pool into this historic building or add it as an extension to the house.”
Rod is facing a potential battle to have the pool built as the site is within a historic walled garden and he requires listed building consent.
Pre-application advice given to him indicated his original proposals would be refused as the pool house was too large and would harm the character of the area. However, his planning agents have now submitted new designs, which include a flat roof and smaller facilities inside the enclosure, although the size of the planned pool is the same. The design statement added: “The existing surrounding outbuildings are not suitable to house such a pool and the necessary changes would seriously affect the integrity of those buildings.
“The walled garden is therefore a logical location, which would have least impact on the setting of the Listed Building and its surrounding areas.”
The council are due to make a decision on the singer’s planning application next month.
Dad-of-eight Rod told last year how he would like Alastair to be a footballer while Penny, 46, hopes he’ll excel in the pool. He said: “He is a great swimmer. His mum loves swimming and wants him to be a champion swimmer.”
Penny, who also has son Aiden, six, with Rod, said: “Alastair is an amazing swimmer – he inherits that from my side – and gets up four times week at 5.30am to swim before school.
“His goal, he says, is to swim in the Olympics. He’s also obsessed with football. He almost sleeps with his football boots.
“As for Aiden, he wants to be just like his big brother.”
Last year, Celtic fan Rod was given permission to build a football pitch at his new home.
The 3G-turfed, five-a-side field will have a car park with 20 spaces next to it and will be surrounded by fencing and trees but plans for floodlights next to it were blocked.
It is part of a programme of planned renovations at Durrington House, which also boasts a rose garden and croquet lawn.