Plans by Ellen DeGeneres to construct an all-weather horse riding arena at her Cotswolds residence have been refused by West Oxfordshire District Council. The former chat show host and her partner, Portia De Rossi, had submitted the proposal to address limitations caused by winter flooding at their Kitesbridge Farm property near Burford, which restricts the use of outdoor spaces for their horses.
The couple, who purchased the 43-acre estate for £15 million in 2024 and invested approximately £7.5 million in renovations, initially intended to leave the property shortly after moving in, seeking a location more suited to Portia De Rossi’s equestrian interests. Although the property was listed for sale last year, it failed to attract a buyer, largely due to concerns about persistent flooding from the River Windrush.
Recent planning documents revealed the couple’s ambition to establish Kitesbridge Farm as their long-term home if their application for the riding arena was approved. However, the council expressed objections, stating that the arena would constitute “an intrusive and incongruous form of development within the open countryside and the Cotswolds National Landscape.”
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The council’s decision highlighted concerns about the arena’s scale, location, and the associated engineering works, which they believe would result in unacceptable encroachment into the undeveloped Upper Windrush Valley. The proposed structure was also deemed harmful to local landscape views and would negatively affect the setting of the nearby Asthall Conservation Area by disrupting the area’s rural character.
Representatives for Ellen DeGeneres responded by emphasising the need for the facility, noting that the horses are currently housed temporarily in converted garages within existing barns. They explained that while summer months permit outdoor exercise on nearby flat land, the proximity to the River Windrush leads to flooding during wetter periods, making such exercise problematic.
They argued that the arena’s intended site, adjacent to the stables and set against the property’s natural topography and existing buildings, was selected to minimise visual and environmental impact. The application also included photographs from April 2023 illustrating the seasonal flooding that affects the estate’s lower fields.
The applicants had requested that the council grant planning permission without delay, but the council’s refusal leaves the couple’s long-term residence plans in doubt, given the restrictions imposed by the current site conditions.