While plenty of Americans wish they could’ve packed up all their things after the election and moved to another country, that wasn’t a realistic solution for most. However, if you just so happen to be a highly influential celebrity couple, like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, then making that move comes a little easier, so that’s exactly what they did.
Back in November 2024, it was reported that DeGeneres had been house hunting in the English countryside at the beginning of October before finding and falling in love with a property in the Cotswolds, a hilly landscape known for its historic architecture and idyllic villages. According to TMZ, the duo was “very disillusioned” with the victory of President Donald Trump, so this new real estate venture couldn’t have come at a better time. While DeGeneres and de Rossi are known for their multimillion-dollar house flips, the couple is apparently in the process of making this bucolic property their home base.
However, the American couple has already begun to clash with their British neighbors. Though DeGeneres and de Rossi already paid around $18 million for their stunning farmhouse, which was $3 million over asking price according to the New York Post, the couple has added on a single-story extension to make the home even larger. Residents in the area are pushing back on this renovation due to an increased flood risk—which DeGeneres has already had to address once since moving. Another concerning factor is that adding this extension could have possibly disturbed historic Roman ruins just over 200 meters from their property.
Apparently, part of the charm of this area of the Cotswolds is its proximity to ancient architecture, and other residents have already gone to the local parish council to object to this home addition. “The onus is on the owner to report any historic remains uncovered,” some council documents state, as three members reiterated concerns about the Roman remains.
Much to the likely chagrin of DeGeneres’s neighbors though, a spokesperson for the West Oxfordshire District Council told the New York Post, “The works at the property involved a single-storey extension and garden landscaping. Although the extension technically breached permitted development rights, it was considered acceptable in planning terms,” thus closing the case. There is still concern about the flood risk, however, as the hedge and wire fence around the couple’s new home could limit “flow across the field” if debris were to become stuck in the fence.
While it seems like DeGeneres and de Rossi have successfully gotten what they wanted with the home extension, we’re curious to see how the rest of their renovation plays out.
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