Ellen DeGeneres final decision made on Cotswolds life

The former US talk show host moved close to Burford in November 2024 with her wife and Arrested Development actress Portia de Rossi.

But problems quickly arose with that property with reports of flooding in the area where the house is located.

It was thought the celebrity couple had moved house, but even with a “secret slash” of £4.5m from the £22m asking price, a buyer was not found.

Ellen DeGeneres

However, the couple have just submitted a planning application to West Oxfordshire District Council for their property at Kitesbridge Farm in Ninety Cut Hill, Asthall.

Agents at Fleming Architects, on behalf of Ms DeGeneres and Ms Rossi, said the estate is now going to be their “long term home”.

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The planning application includes the demolition of an existing barn and building in its place some new stables for Ms Rossi.

The agents said: “The applicants carried out a successful renovation of the house last year and wish to make this their long term home.

Ellen DeGeneres lives on a farm near Burford (Image: Fleming Architects/WODC)

“One of their passions is horses and although the building group is large, there is no provision for horses or for their training and bringing up.

“This application seeks to address this in as sensitive a way as possible.”

Ms DeGeneres and Ms Rossi did explore several options for the stables including a larger American-style barn or a group of smaller byre ranges forming a U shape.

“Both are traditional per se, but the American barn was felt to be too large and might easily dominate the pleasing building cluster to the west; a U shaper byre range conversely not providing the cover and practicality required,” the agents said.

Ellen DeGeneres lives on a farm near Burford (Image: Fleming Architects/WODC)

In the end, the couple opted for a traditional stone building, single range, built in the local vernacular, so as to blend in to the existing buildings grouped within the farm.

The agents said: “The building largely designs itself. It is sufficiently wide to provide stabling and cross-ties, and tack room at one end and feed or storage at the other.

“A first floor level is provided, accessed by tallet steps. This is really the resulting space from the design of the building, and would be used as a hayloft or for storage, but is not central to this application.”

Ellen DeGeneres lives on a farm near Burford (Image: Fleming Architects/WODC)

They added: “Overall we feel this scheme would give great enjoyment and amenity to the site without any significant harm, especially alongside the removal of the agricultural shed, and accordingly we hope this meets with officer approval.”

Ahead of West Oxfordshire District Council making a decision, a consultation period is being held which will end on April 13.

Neil Warner, the director of JPPC chartered town planners, said: “The application site is under new ownership and the surrounding land is used to graze horses or farmed by others.

“There is no need for the new owners for their own agricultural building for storage. They are however horse owners and do require stabling for their horses.”