Geri Horner's new horse barn is knocking out the local village's phone signal, neighbours claim

29 November 2022, 20:18 | Updated: 30 November 2022, 06:45

Geri Halliwell is embroiled in a planning dispute with neighbours
Geri Halliwell is embroiled in a planning dispute with neighbours. Picture: Social media

By Kit Heren

Former Spice Girl Geri Horner has become embroiled in a row with her neighbours over a barn they say is disrupting phone signal in their village.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Ms Horner, 50, and her husband the Formula One mogul Christian Horner, have built a barn to house 14 stables on their country estate in Northamptonshire.

The corrugated steel building, which they started without getting planning permission first, has knocked out phone reception in the nearby village, irate locals claim.

Ms and Mr Horner have since been given retroactive permission by Northamptonshire County Council - leading to accusations that officers have caved in to the demands of the wealthy.

Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell's horse barn has come under scrutiny. Picture: Social media

The locals also claim that the couple have re-routed public footpaths to suit their needs.

One letter objecting to the plan said: "The barn has affected mobile phone signals in the village without a doubt."

"No notice of planning permission notices ever erected in retrospect or any planning.

"The barn is hideous, totally destroys the landscape and views. Excess floodlights all night long causing light trespass to all neighbours from the main house also.

Ms Horner's rural image is a far cry from her time in the Spice Girls
Ms Horner's rural image is a far cry from her time in the Spice Girls. Picture: Social media

"What is it with this council - do they cave into the rich because they don't have money to fight them in court?"Many people in the village not happy at all laws being allowed to be flouted.

"They have even re-routed public footpaths and installed their own style gates, how on earth is being allowed?

"Their horses are also a menace on the footpaths to the public."

Another neighbour added: "The barn affects mobile signals in the village, is a hideous blight on the landscape and does not conform.

"If this build is retrospective, why is it still being built? There is now a huge glass construction being built on the end of the barn - don't the council care of the favouritism being shown to the wealthy here? Unacceptable.

Ms Halliwell married Christian Horner in 2015
Ms Halliwell married Christian Horner in 2015. Picture: Getty

"This is not a verbal attack on the rich, this is a breach of fairness to all. Favouritism is being shown here."

Another objector said: "Rishi Sunak PM stated in the last few days that any village that wholly objects to building plans, such as those happening without council diligence at Glebe House, are to be refused if the local village residents strongly object. Which they do.

Planning documents submitted on behalf of Ms Horner 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."

She and her husband got married in 2015 and live in the English countryside.

Villager tells of fighting blaze which destroyed home

Ms Horner, once known as Ginger Spice and famed for her Union Jack dress, now presents a more typically rural public image, often posting photos of the animals on her estate to social media.

Read more: Backlash as father-of-two jailed for tackling burglars but crooks given slap on wrist - as fund for him hits £16,000

Read more: Man arrested over deaths of 27 migrants killed crossing the Channel in a dinghy

A spokesperson for the council said that it had given permission on the condition that the land was used for private use only, rather than commercial.

They added: "West Northamptonshire Council always seeks to look for solutions rather than problems so that applications for sustainable development can be approved, thereby resulting in improvements to the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area."

Ms Horner has been contacted for comment.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Students take gap years and ‘neglect studies’ as survey suggests Edinburgh rents skyrocketed by nearly two thirds in a year.

Students take gap years and ‘neglect studies’ as survey suggests Edinburgh rents skyrocketed by nearly two thirds in a year

Breaking
Breaking News

Two Just Stop Oil activists charged after orange paint thrown over Stonehenge

Man arrested after reports of person carrying knives outside Houses of Parliament

Man charged with carrying offensive weapons after 'knife' incident near Parliament

Exclusive
Michael Harris died in an e-scooter crash

'My best friend was killed in e-scooter crash - I'm urging the government not to legalise them for use on roads'

Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, from Southwark, was pronounced dead at the scene in East Street, Walworth.

First picture of Walworth market 'knife rampage' victim as suspect appears in court

Police at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage where three people died and seven people were taken to hospital

Woman arrested over Dorset care home deaths released without charge

Donald Trump with Matt Gaetz

Trump's pick for US attorney-general faced sex-trafficking investigation by department he's now set to lead

The King is celebrating his 76th birthday

William and Kate 'wish very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King!' as Charles celebrates turning 76

The mother said her daughter was threatened with detention for wearing a poppy to school

Mother's fury after daughter 'threatened with detention for wearing poppy to school'

Which? has launched a £3billion suit against Apple.

Which? launches £3 billion lawsuit against Apple over iCloud use - as 40 million Brits could receive payout

David Coote

Referees body 'taking very seriously' video appearing to show David Coote snorting white powder

Police have released this CCTV image of a man they want to trace

Police hunt man who ‘bit woman on chest’ in London nightclub

Despite backlash, The Yellow Bittern has been a hit amongst critics.

London chef takes to Instagram to complain diners are not ordering enough and ‘restaurants are not public benches’

A female pharmacist at work in a pharmacy in South Wales

Pharmacies could close on evenings and weekends as owners protest over funding

Exclusive
UK prisoners could be sent to Poland after new talks.

Polish inmates languishing in UK jails face being sent back home in bid to free up prison space

John Lewis Christmas advert 2024.

WATCH: John Lewis unveils emotional Christmas advert in latest festive tearjerker