Planning decision for George Harrison’s country estate

In August last year, George’s son, Grammy award-winning musician Dhani Harrison, applied to amend approved plans at Friar Park in Henley.

The former home of the Beatles star is said to have inspired his first solo album since the band split, entitled All Things Must Pass.

READ MORE: Battle to develop Beatles legend’s estate

The mansion featured its lawn on the cover with the guitarist surrounded by four gnomes – thought by many to represent each member of the band.

Several planning applications have been approved at the mansion, including consent granted to George’s widow Olivia Harrison five years ago to build a home on a disused tennis court.

George Harrison (Image: SWNS)

It was revealed last year that Dhani had taken over projects on the site when he was granted planning permission to make changes to these plans that included adding a plant room and making alterations to the windows and openings. 

Two fresh applications were submitted to either discharge or amend conditions that had been attached to previous approvals.

This included a proposal relating to a detached single-storey maintenance building and removal of nine prefabricated buildings and containers in the grounds.

The Victorian estate was reportedly weeks away from being bulldozed when it was bought by George in 1970 when he was 27.

George and Olivia helped to transform the gardens back to their former glory into what are now regarded as some of Britain’s finest.

Friar Park has been the Harrison family home for decades, and was also where George survived being stabbed by schizophrenic Michael Abram in 1999. The attacker was later sentenced to life in a secure hospital unit.

Planning permission was granted four years ago to Olivia for a new two-bedroom oak framed home on the site of the disused tennis court.

The sign for Friar Park in Henley (Image: SWNS)

It included a kitchen diner, lounge, utility and music room on the ground floor and two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two further rooms on the first floor.

Some of the planned alterations given recent approval included adding three dragon finials, removing a clock tower, changing square windows to round ones and adding French doors.

A recording studio was used at Friar Park by George Harrison for his solo albums.

The studio was also used for work on Traveling Wilburys releases – the former Beatle was a member of the supergroup, which also featured Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne.

And recording and filming for The Beatles’ 1995 Anthology project also took place at the mansion studio.

George Harrison died of cancer aged 58 in 2001.