Boris Johnson's plans to revamp mansion opposed by council officials due to ancient tree

Council officials are objecting to new electric gates until former Prime Minister Boris Johnson comes up with a way to put them in without damaging any of the limbs of a yew

Boris Johnson’s plans to revamp his £3.8million pad have been uprooted – by a tree.

The former Prime Minister’s attempts to do up his moated nine-bed mansion have already been delayed by fears over bats and newts plus calls for an archaeological dig. Now council officials are objecting to new electric gates until he comes up with a way to put them in without damaging any of the limbs of a yew.

Documents show the gates were originally approved. But South Oxfordshire planning chiefs U-turned when they realised the tree could be over 600 years old. A heritage report says: “The yew trees on the mound within the south-west corner of the grounds and the grouping of church and manor within a defined site may suggest Saxon origins.”

Mr Johnson has now submitted drawings agreeing to reposition the gates to avoid lopping the ancient structure and is awaiting a response. It is the latest hold-up at the 400-year-old pile in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, where the politician, 60, moved with wife Carrie, 36, and their three children in May last year.

We revealed how he had to agree to protect bats and great crested newts before being allowed an outdoor pool – and was threatened with an archaeological dig because the ruins of a castle are said to be buried there. The ex-PM has raked in more than £5million since he quit as PM in 2022, including for a string of speeches and a £510,000 advance to write his memoir. He will reportedly earn £1million over two years as a newspaper columnist.