Rishi Sunak has won council approval to build a lavish extension on his Grade II-listed house.
The chancellor of the exchequer is set to build a gym, swimming pool and tennis courts at his house, Kirby Sigston Manor.
Mr Sunak lives in the large property, which was built in 1826, when he’s away from Downing Street and in his Richmond constituency.
He bought the house, along with its private pond and landscaped gardens, for £1.5 million in 2015 when he was first elected.
The chancellor was warned by Hambleton District Council development in the small, picturesque hamlet ‘will only be supported when an exceptional case can be made for the development’.
But planning officers agreed the ‘overall impact upon landscape character and the appearance of the area would be acceptable’ as the tennis court will be obscured by the rest of the development.
According to planning documents, Mr Sunak is planning the ‘construction of a stone building’ to accommodate the leisure facilities, as well as a ‘wildlife area’ and ‘associated landscaping’.
A new stone building will accommodate a 12-metre by 5-metre swimming pool, four showers and utilities and storage rooms.
The cost of the proposal will be covered privately as it is not a government-owned property.
A wealthy man in his own right from his previous career in business, the 41-year-old Tory MP is also married to the daughter of a billionaire.
Wife Akshata Murthy’s father is N. R. Narayana Murthy, who founded the multi-billion pound financial service firm Infosys.
According to The Times, the couple also own a ‘£7 million house in Kensington, west London, a flat on Old Brompton Road and an apartment in Santa Monica, California’.
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