Ellen DeGeneres in Cotswolds battle over Roman remains

The former US talk show host and her partner, Portia De Rossi, bought Kitesbridge Farm near Burford for £15m in 2024.

They spent a reported £7.5m on external and internal renovations, but moved out after less than a month to find somewhere more suitable to indulge in Portia’s passion for horses.

It was thought they would sell the home when it was listed last July, but it failed to attract a buyer and was plagued by flooding from the River Windrush, which ran through the 43-acre site.

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Ellen DeGeneres. (Image: Newsquest)

There had been reports that a sale was ‘close’ after she had ‘secretly’ slashed £4.5m off the £22m asking price, and the house was taken off the market as a condition of sale.

But planning documents published revealed they now have ambitions to make it their ‘long term home’ if their bid for new stables is successful.

And they are now facing potential opposition from the council as the proposal site lies in an area of archaeological interest and potential Roman remains.

Documents showed the site was close to a Roman bridge, a Roman road, a Roman villa and an associated bathhouse.

The report from West Oxfordshire District Council‘s archaeological team stated: “Historic maps and aerial photographs suggest that the area of the proposed stable building has not seen previous development as part of the farm, and so, it is possible that Roman remains survive on the site.

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Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her Cotswolds home. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

“We would, therefore, recommend that, should planning permission be granted, the applicant should be responsible for ensuring the implementation of an archaeological monitoring and recording action (watching brief) to be maintained during the period of construction.”

The report added: “In the area between Kitesbridge Farm and the villa, the HER records a number of findspots, including Mesolithic – Neolithic flint flakes, a Roman quern and a Roman coin dating from the mid-3rd century.

“An undated enclosure and trackway have been recorded as crop marks in aerial photographs, also within this area.”

The council archaeological team told the couple the would be responsible for organising and implementing an archaeological watching brief, to be maintained during the period of construction/during any groundworks taking place on the site.

A further condition was recommended that no development should start without the appointed archaeologist being present.

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Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her Cotswolds home. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

In a design and access statement to support their application to West Oxfordshire District Council, their representatives revealed the couple’s long-term ambitions for the home.

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

“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.”

The full planning application that seeks to knock down an agricultural building and build stables in its place will be considered by West Oxfordshire District Council.

Ellen has previously spoken about the need for a home with a horse facility and said in a previous statement: “When we decided to live here full time, we knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses.

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Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her Cotswolds home. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

“We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.”

The planning application described the owners as “horse owners” who require stabling for their horses.

The proposed building would provide space for two loose boxes and the storage of all associated equestrian paraphernalia within a single building.

Drawings showed it is of vernacular design, to be built in stone with a pitched tile roof and has been designed to appear as a natural complement to the group of buildings.

The application added: “There are no nearby neighbours and thus no impact on residential amenity that would result from the provision of stabling.”

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Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her Cotswolds home. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

The application reveals options that were explored, which considered the larger American barn style, or a group of smaller byre ranges forming a U shape.

It added: “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-shaped byre range, conversely, not providing the cover and practicality required.

“Hence, the “in-between” option is proposed, a traditional stone building, single range, built in the local vernacular, so as to blend in to the existing building group.”

Ellen’s representatives said the building had been carefully sited to align centrally with the granary barn to the north and byre range to the south to “create a pleasing viewpoint on approach.”

The statement added: “The building largely designs itself: sufficiently wide to provide stabling and cross-ties, and tack room at one end and feed/storage at the other.

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Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her Cotswolds home. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

“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.

“Overall, when comparing the existing shed against the proposed stable building, it is likely the traditionally designed stone building would sit better in the landscape, and appear to belong more coherently to the adjacent building group.”

The statement included a plea for planners at the council to approve the application as “quickly as possible.”

It concluded: “The stable building has been sensitively designed, sited and orientated, to reduce visual massing and tie the new stable building into the existing building group.

“Indeed, when comparing the existing agricultural shed – which is to be demolished – against the proposed stable building, it is likely the traditionally designed stone building would sit better and belong more coherently to the adjacent building group.

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Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi. (Image: David Jensen / PA)

“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. ”

No objections from the public have so far been received, but one local has submitted a letter of support.

One neighbour stated: “Nice to see a traditional architectural design that improves the current building and landscape.”

The application will be determined by West Oxfordshire Council at a later date.