Pippa Middleton and her financier husband James Matthews face a court-ordered removal of an unauthorized parking lot built for paying fishermen along the River Kennet in Berkshire, following an enforcement ruling handed down in February 2026.
The legal defeat marks the second major property dispute for the couple since their acquisition of the Barton Court estate in 2022. Local residents initiated the legal challenge, arguing that the installation near Newbury Lock prioritized commercial gain over protected rural ecosystems and public access.
Bucklebury Farm Park Financial Strain and Barton Court Expansion
The latest court action follows a series of financial pressures tied to the family’s local commercial holdings. In 2021, Middleton and Matthews purchased the 72-acre Bucklebury Farm Park for approximately 1,5 milióna eur, operating it as a contact safari park and glamping site. By 2025, the facility accumulated a total debt of 807,543 pounds, prompting the couple to put the loss-making tourist attraction up for sale.
Concurrently, the family expanded their real estate portfolio with the 2022 purchase of Barton Court, a 30-room historic mansion set on extensive grounds in Berkshire.
| Asset | Acquisition Year | Valuation / Outlay | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucklebury Farm Park | 2021 | ~€1.5 million | Listed for sale following £807,543 debt accumulation by 2025 |
| Barton Court Estate | 2022 | 18 miliónov eur | Subject to ongoing planning disputes over unauthorized parking facilities |
Security Fencing Precedent and the West Berkshire Ramblers Dispute
The tension over Barton Court began immediately after the purchase when the couple converted a historical public footpath into a private, security-gated driveway. The West Berkshire Ramblers challenged the footpath closure through local courts.
Defending the initial security measures, James Matthews provided a statement to The Independent explaining the security requirements tied to their public profile. Vzhľadom na to, že moja rodina je verejne známa a na očiach verejnosti, má to isté dôsledky, čo si vyžaduje vyššiu úroveň zabezpečenia, než by to bolo za iných okolností,
Matthews stated, noting that electric security gates were installed prior to their relocation.
While courts upheld the family’s right to install security infrastructure for that initial driveway, the subsequent construction of the commercial parking lot near the River Kennet without planning consent failed to secure legal backing.
Planning Authorities Reject Appeal Over River Kennet Parking Area
The dispute escalated when local residents discovered that a parcel of the estate’s land adjacent to the River Kennet had been converted into an unapproved parking lot. Estate representatives maintained that the facility catered to paying fishermen, with proceeds designated to offset the substantial costs of maintaining the surrounding grounds.
Planning authorities rejected the defense, ruling in February 2026 that the unauthorized commercial lot violated local environmental and land-use regulations. Following the initial administrative ruling, Matthews and Middleton launched an appeal to overturn the directive.
Planning inspectors dismissed the appeal in recent days, confirming the original order requiring the complete removal of the unpermitted parking infrastructure near Newbury Lock.
