Britain’s beloved property expert, who has guided countless homeowners through renovations and developments, now finds herself in an ironic twist battling planning permission issues at her own £3 million dream home. The Sarah Beeny house in Somerset has become one of the most talked-about celebrity properties in the UK, not just for its stunning architecture, but for the controversy surrounding it.
The Sarah Beeny house journey began in 2018 when Sarah and her husband Graham Swift purchased a 220-acre Somerset estate for £3 million. What was once a semi-derelict dairy farm has been transformed into a magnificent seven-bedroom Georgian-inspired mansion, complete with two libraries, a treehouse, and a vineyard. But this ambitious project, which became the centerpiece of her Channel 4 series “Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country,” has sparked a six-year planning permission battle with local authorities.
Inside the Sarah Beeny house, exploring everything from its architectural features and interior design to the ongoing legal disputes that threaten partial demolition. We’ll also uncover Sarah Beeny’s net worth, reveal how old Sarah Beeny is, and dive deep into the Sarah Beeny house planning permission controversy that has captivated property enthusiasts nationwide.
Last Updated: December 26, 2024
Sarah Beeny House: Quick Stats at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏠 Property Name | Stokeford Farm |
| 📍 Location | Stoney Stoke, Wincanton, Somerset |
| 💰 Purchase Price | £3 million (2018) |
| 📏 Property Size | 8,000 square feet |
| 🌳 Land Size | 220 acres |
| 🛏️ Bedrooms | 7 bedrooms |
| 🛁 Bathrooms | 5 en-suite bathrooms |
| 🏛️ Floors | 3 storeys |
| 🎨 Architectural Style | Georgian-inspired country mansion |
| 👨👩👦👦 Residents | Sarah Beeny, Graham Swift & 4 sons |
| 📺 Featured On | “Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country” (Channel 4) |
| ⚖️ Status | Ongoing planning permission dispute |
| 📅 Year Built | 2018-2020 (new construction) |
Disclaimer: All details in this article are based on public reports, media coverage, and planning documents. Property layouts, features, and legal situations may have changed since publication. For the most current information on planning decisions, please consult Somerset Council’s public planning portal.
The Property Expert Behind the Project
Before we tour the estate, let’s talk about the woman who created it. Sarah Lucinda Beeny was born in 1972 in Reading, Berkshire, making her 52-53 years old today. The daughter of an architect, Beeny grew up surrounded by construction sites and property development, which laid the foundation for her illustrious career.
Sarah Beeny Net Worth: Building an Empire
Sarah Beeny has a net worth of $6 million (approximately £3-5 million), accumulated through decades of property development, television contracts, book royalties, and entrepreneurial ventures. Her wealth stems from multiple income streams including her property investment company founded at age 24, her wildly successful TV shows like “Property Ladder” (2001-2009), and business ventures like MySingleFriend.com and Tepilo.com.
What makes Beeny’s financial success particularly impressive is its diversity. Beyond television, she’s authored bestselling books, created innovative online platforms that disrupted traditional industries, and maintained a hands-on approach to property development throughout her career. Industry estimates suggest she earns £20,000–£30,000 per month from media and property-related projects.
How Old is Sarah Beeny: A Life in Property
Sarah Beeny was born on 9 January 1972, which makes her 52 years old as of late 2024. Despite facing personal challenges including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022, Beeny has remained resilient, documenting her treatment journey in the documentary “Sarah Beeny vs Cancer” and continuing her property projects alongside cancer treatment.
Her age brings with it over three decades of property expertise. She started her first development company at just 24 years old with her brother Diccon and husband Graham Swift, and has since become one of Britain’s most recognized property experts.
Location & Property Overview: Somerset’s Celebrity Enclave
Sarah Beeny’s farm is located on Stokeford Farm, in the hamlet of Stoney Stoke, near Wincanton, Somerset. The property sits on an impressive 220 acres of land, close to the increasingly fashionable town of Bruton, which has become a magnet for wealthy Londoners and celebrities seeking countryside retreats.
What Drew the Beenys to Somerset?
What made Sarah fall in love with the house was its position – the sunsets and sunrises are beautiful, the views are amazing and there is a tinkling stream to play in. Additionally, the location is less than two hours from London, allowing easy access to meetings while enjoying rural living.
The family’s move from London to Somerset wasn’t just about the property itself. Living near their cousins was a really big draw for the Beeny children, as Sarah’s brother is married to her husband’s sister and they now only live half an hour away. The timing was crucial too it was the last opportunity before their eldest son Billy started his GCSEs.
The Property’s Scale
Key Statistics:
- Purchase Price: £3 million (2018)
- Land Size: 220 acres
- House Size: 8,000 square feet
- Structure: Three-storey, seven-bedroom mansion
- Style: Georgian-inspired country house
- Fields: 12 fields with approximately 1,000 sheep grazing
Architectural Vision: A “Mini Downton Abbey”
The mansion has been nicknamed a “mini Downton Abbey” by locals and media alike, and it’s easy to see why. The house represents Sarah and Graham’s first attempt at building a family home from scratch, despite their extensive renovation experience.
Exterior Design & Features
The property has been transformed into a modern stately home with two libraries, a treehouse, boathouse, greenhouse and an extensive boot room. The exterior showcases a Georgian-inspired aesthetic with:
Outdoor Features:
- 🏛️ Clock Tower: Complete with a bell and unique family flag decorated with lead initials representing their four sons (Billy, Charlie, Raffey, and Laurie) plus a Somerset dragon
- 🌳 Treehouse: A custom-built structure for the children
- 🚣 Boathouse: Positioned near two man-made ponds
- 🍇 Vineyard: The family planted their own vineyard to produce wine
- 🏡 Victorian-Style Greenhouse: Added without planning permission
The couple used excess soil from digging a lake to create an embankment along the side of a field, designed to provide privacy and reduce road noise though this also sparked controversy with neighbors.
Interior Design: Old Meets New
The interior of Sarah Beeny house is where her artistic sensibility truly shines. The interiors are styled with rare antiques and rich, handpicked decor, like the deep red wallpaper chosen by Beeny, an artist.
Interior Highlights:
Kitchen:
- Shaker-style design with two dishwashers
- Southwest-facing for maximum sunlight throughout the year
- Walk-in larder with Victorian touches
Libraries (Two!): Drawing inspiration from an 18th-century stately home that Sarah had previously worked on, they covered the library with custom-made bookcases made from sustainable timber. Graham installed a hidden drinks cabinet as a special touch, adding a secret feature to the library.
Dining Room: The dining room is one of the most convincing new rooms, adorned with highly decorative, ornate, gilded plasterwork that gives it a timeless charm. Deep red wallpaper creates a dramatic, sophisticated atmosphere.
Guest Bedroom: Sarah and Graham envisioned an enchanting room inspired by Narnia for their guest accommodations.
Downstairs Cloakroom: Sarah proposed transforming their downstairs cloakroom into a Victorian-style cupboard of curiosities, where Graham reunited with some old taxidermy friends that they have inherited over the years.
Additional Rooms:
- Secret room
- Sitting room
- Playroom
- Music room for the boys
- Practical utility/boot room
- Five en-suite bathrooms
The Planning Permission Controversy
Here’s where Sarah Beeny house planning permission story takes a dramatic turn. Despite her decades of property expertise, Beeny found herself on the wrong side of planning regulations ironically, while documenting the entire process on national television.
The Original Agreement
Initial permissions were given to construct a new home on the condition that the 1970s farmhouse included on the property, and its adjoining buildings, were torn down. However, instead of demolishing everything as required, Beeny chose a different path.
What Went Wrong
Sarah Beeny started building her home at Stoney Stoke in 2018, a project that included demolishing an existing 1970s farmhouse. Since then, she made a series of extensive renovations, including adding an expanded balcony, French doors, a treehouse, a boathouse and a Victorian-style greenhouse. These modifications were made without securing the necessary planning permissions, and Beeny later filed a retrospective planning application to legalize them.
Unauthorized Additions:
- Expanded balcony
- French doors
- Treehouse
- Boathouse
- Victorian-style greenhouse
- Extensions to the original farmhouse (which should have been demolished)
The Council’s Response
Somerset Council, along with Charlton Musgrove Parish Council, opposed Beeny’s retrospective planning application, stating that her modifications contradict the original permission to demolish and replace the farmhouse.
The council cited several concerns:
- Breach of Planning Conditions: The renovations conflicted with the original permission
- Wildlife Protection: Concerns over impact on local bat populations near the estate
- European Protected Species: Under planning law, works affecting bats require specific mitigation plans, such as creating a bat roost
- Agricultural Land Loss: The parish council worried about the loss of agricultural land
The Appeal Process
Beeny and her design team submitted a 125-page document in support of her appeal, highlighting how the renovations blend with the character of the estate. Despite these efforts, the appeal was rejected in May 2024, and parts of the property now face demolition orders.
As of late 2024 and early 2025, the situation remains unresolved, with Beeny continuing to challenge the demolition order and Somerset Council reviewing the situation.
Life at the Estate: From City to Country
The Beeny-Swift household consists of Sarah, her husband and business partner Graham Swift (an artist), and their four sons who form the indie rock band “The Entitled Sons.” The family dynamic is unique Sarah’s brother Diccon is married to Graham’s sister Caroline, creating an exceptionally close-knit extended family.
Adapting to Rural Life
They threw themselves in at the deep end and quickly adapted to a new way of life after 30 years of urban living in London. The transition from city life to managing 220 acres with 1,000 sheep wasn’t without challenges, but it aligned with their vision of creating “the perfect house.”
Sustainable Living Features
True to modern property development trends, the mansion incorporates eco-friendly elements:
- Sustainable timber for custom bookcases
- Energy-efficient design
- On-site vineyard
- Natural landscape integration
The family has also developed the surrounding land, creating two ponds and undertaking various agricultural projects that were documented in “Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country.”
Media Coverage & Public Reaction
The house has generated significant public interest and mixed reactions since appearing on Channel 4.
Viewer Opinions
Public reaction to Sarah Beeny’s mansion design has been polarized. Some viewers described the house as looking “like a Lego version of a Georgian country pile” and criticized it as “naff looking”. Others found it ostentatious and felt uncomfortable with the scale and style.
However, many viewers appreciated seeing the family’s journey and the challenges of building from scratch. The show’s candid documentation of both successes and setbacks resonated with audiences interested in property development.
Neighbor Relations
The planning disputes weren’t the only source of tension. Beeny’s plan to create a lake and use excess soil to build an embankment was slammed as “intolerable” by one neighbour. Local residents raised concerns about:
- Road safety with new exits onto busy roads
- Changes to the landscape
- Privacy implications
- The scale of development in a rural area
Some locals suggested that plans to add an exit onto the main road would cause more accidents on what one 35-year resident described as a “notorious stretch of road”.
Comparing to Rise Hall: A Pattern of Grand Restoration
Before the Somerset estate, Sarah Beeny’s most famous property project was Rise Hall in Yorkshire. Rise Hall was a Grade II listed 97-room mansion in Yorkshire that the couple transformed into a wedding venue, selling it for £1.4 million in 2019.
The Rise Hall experience clearly influenced the Somerset project, particularly in terms of scale and ambition. Both properties involved significant structural work, period features, and converting agricultural or semi-derelict buildings into stunning family homes.
The Business Side: More Than Just a Home
Sarah Beeny’s Somerset estate isn’t just a family residence it’s also a business venture. Avalon Planning and Heritage, on behalf of the couple, submitted an application to change the use of a 495sqm agricultural barn at Stokeford Farm for flexible commercial activities.
The barn conversion application seeks to enable flexible longer-term commercial use of the building, noting the changing use and context of Stokeford Farm. This suggests plans to monetize parts of the estate through commercial activities, potentially including:
- Film and photo shoots
- Events hosting
- Tourism-related activities
- Content creation studios
Lessons from Sarah Beeny’s Planning Battle
What can property developers and homeowners learn from Sarah Beeny house planning permission challenges?
Key Takeaways:
- Always Secure Permission First: Even experienced developers should obtain proper planning permission before starting work, not after
- Document Everything: Submit comprehensive plans and follow-up with detailed records
- Consider Wildlife Impacts: Environmental assessments are crucial, especially for protected species
- Engage with the Community: Early consultation with neighbors and local councils prevents disputes
- Stick to Approved Plans: Deviating from granted permissions, even for “improvements,” can result in demolition orders
- Retrospective Applications Are Risky: They’re harder to win than initial applications and can be costly if rejected
The irony isn’t lost on viewers that a property expert who has advised countless homeowners on development now faces potential demolition of parts of her own dream home.
Visit Also: Rashmika Mandanna House
Current Status & Future of the Estate
As of December 2024, the planning dispute remains ongoing. The council is now reviewing the situation following the rejected appeal. Sarah and Graham have several options:
- Appeal to the Planning Inspectorate
- Demolish the unauthorized sections as ordered
- Negotiate a compromise with Somerset Council
- Continue legal challenges
Despite the planning controversies, the family continues to live in and develop the estate. The property remains a work in progress, with ongoing projects including barn conversions and landscape improvements.
What Makes This House Special
Beyond the controversy, what truly makes Sarah Beeny’s Somerset house remarkable is its representation of a complete lifestyle transformation. It’s not just about square footage or luxury features it’s about creating a multi-generational family compound that balances modern comfort with rural self-sufficiency.
The blend of old and new architectural elements, the integration of working agricultural land with luxury living spaces, and the commitment to creating distinct spaces for each family member’s needs all contribute to making this more than just another celebrity mansion.
Conclusion: A Dream Home’s Uncertain Future
Sarah Beeny’s £3 million Somerset estate represents both the culmination of a lifetime of property expertise and a cautionary tale about planning regulations. The house itself is undeniably impressive a thoughtfully designed family home with period charm, modern amenities, and stunning grounds. Yet the ongoing legal battles serve as a reminder that even the most experienced property professionals aren’t above planning law.
Beeny’s belief in starting with function when designing a room, working out furniture and sockets needed, and only then considering decor clearly influenced this project. Every space has purpose, from the hidden drinks cabinet in the library to the walk-in larder in the kitchen.
Whether the demolition orders are ultimately enforced or a compromise is reached, Sarah Beeny house will remain a fascinating case study in ambitious property development, family living, and the complexities of rural planning permission.
? FAQs About Sarah Beeny House
Where is Sarah Beeny house located?
Sarah Beeny house is located on Stokeford Farm in the hamlet of Stoney Stoke, near Wincanton, Somerset, on a 220-acre estate.
How much did Sarah Beeny pay for her Somerset house?
Sarah Beeny bought her Somerset home in 2018 for £3 million.
What is the planning permission issue with Sarah Beeny house?
Beeny made extensive renovations and additions without proper planning permission, including expanding the original 1970s farmhouse that was supposed to be demolished. The council rejected her retrospective planning application, and parts of the property now face demolition orders.
Does Sarah Beeny still own Rise Hall?
No, Sarah Beeny no longer owns Rise Hall. She and her husband sold the property in 2019 to Daniel and Helen Gill.
Can you visit Sarah Beeny’s Somerset house?
The property is a private family residence and is not open to the public. However, viewers can see inside through her Channel 4 series “Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country.”
How many bedrooms does Sarah Beeny house have?
The mansion features seven bedrooms across three storeys, with five en-suite bathrooms.
