Work had started but had not been finished
File photo: Comedian Josh Widdicombe outside County Hall in Exeter(Image: Bradley Gerrard)
New Strictly Come Dancing host Josh Widdicombe was forced to pause work at his listed mansion on one of Exeter’s most prestigious streets after he began renovations without planning consent.
The comedian began renovating his new family home that was once owned by Noel Edmonds, but planning documents reveal he failed to get listed building consent to do so.
In a retrospective application, his agent said it was “regrettable” but confirmed work was immediately “paused” when the discrepency came to light.
The comedian, who was announced last week as the co-host of the BBC Saturday night flagship dance show, bought the five-bed property where the ex Deal or No Deal host used to reside for £2.95M last summer.
He moved into the listed building with his producer wife Rose Hanson and the couple have wasted no time in trying to stamp their mark on it with a series of planned renovations.
But a retrospective application to carry out works at the white-rendered home was approved this week.
The couple’s representatives wrote: “Although it is always regrettable to act as an agent when applying for retrospective consent, I can see no reason in this case why consent would not have been granted if applied for at the correct time through the normal channels.”
On the application form, Rose confirmed work had begun but had not been finished.
Their agent added: “Although these works were started without the benefit of listed building consent, they have been paused whilst this application is considered.”
Listed building consent was granted this week by Exeter City Council planners under delegated powers after no objections were received.
The application was in the name of Josh’s wife Rose, who previously said on social media she was the boss when it comes to renovations.
She wrote: “He’s good at writing jokes, I’m good with interiors – we stick to our lanes.”
Permission being granted to resume work comes after the Last Leg comedian was given one of the most sought after roles on television alongside Emma Willis and professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The work includes a range of internal alterations on the ground floor including reopening a historic doorway on the ground floor, which had been blocked up with 20th century studwork.
On the first floor, alterations involve adjusting 20th century partitions in the master suite at the front of the house, where a wall will be re-aligned.
A modern door and architrave set will also be repositioned from one section of studwork to another of the same age.
To the rear of the house, the triangulated bathroom formed from 20th century studwork will be re-built to “read better within the room” which currently has two side sash windows of different widths.
Outside they also want to add a new back door.
The couple had previously submitted plans to also repair windows and install two MVHR units on the ground floor but these were withdrawn in March and ‘superceded’ by the recent application.
The house was described as a 19th century stuccoed Italianate villa that was listed in September 2003. A statement on behalf of Josh and Rose to support the application stated: “At ground floor level it is proposed to re-open an historic doorway that was blocked with C20th studwork.
“This entrance once provided access to the small office on the north side of the house and the new opening allows the jib door which provides access through the arched head niche in the drawing room to be closed over again.
“A similar later opening in a niche in the snug will also be filled again from the kitchen. In this location, the existing door (modern) will be left in situ to form a cupboard.
“At the very back of the building, minor adjustments are proposed to the plan form of the 20th century rear extension, incorporating a new door from the garden, and closing in a niche serving the dining room.”
Outlining the proposals on the first floor, the couple said through representatives: “At first floor level, alterations only involve adjustments to 20th century partitions.
“In the master suite at the front of the house, a late 20th century wall will be re-aligned to remove an uncomfortable step in the wall.
“The later (albeit matching) sections of skirting and architrave will be re-used as part of these works.
“A modern door and architrave set will be repositioned from one section of late 20th century studwork to another of the same age.
“Towards the rear of the house, an uncomfortable triangulated bathroom (formed of C20th studwork) will be re-built to read better within the room.
“It is interesting to note that this room has two side sash windows of different widths confirming that room is already an amalgamation of two former rooms and therefore any form of subdivision does no harm to the legibility of the historic floor plan in this location.”
The couple said none of the works resulted in any loss of historic fabric and the ventilation system proposed in previous applications had been omitted in its entirety.
“The enclosed works have no impact on the setting of the building in any way, with the only external change proposed the inclusion of a new door to the garden store.
“This is in a modern portion of the building and set into a wall built of blockwork. The design of the joinery proposed is appropriate to the house and setting.
“Internally, none of the proposed works have an adverse impact on the character of the house. Other works at ground floor level are neutral with a new office door and architrave set carefully copied from that adjacent.”
In approving the application, a planning official wrote: “The impacts of the proposals are largely considered positive/neutral.
“The reopening of the historic doorway is considered positive as it would allow better reading of the historic layout.
“The repositioning of the stud walls are also considered positive as it would remove an awkward shaped wall with its reintroduction in a more historically accurate form and layout.
“The introduction of a doorway into the rear store is considered neutral as it would impact a non-original exterior wall.
“The other minor works are considered to have a neutral impact upon the heritage of this listed building.”
The couple moved to the home in Exeter after selling their £2.3M London townhouse.
They said at the time they wanted the move to bring up their two children with more space and be closer to Josh’s childhood home.
Previous pictures have shown inside the 7,500 sq ft Grade II listed property that includes five en-suite bedrooms and a separate one-bed coach house in the grounds.
It featured a huge living room with a grand piano, high ceilings and a log fire as well as two other sitting rooms, two offices, a 35ft dining room and a large kitchen and breakfast room heated by an Aga.
The posh home also comes with two offices, a gym and a wine cellar.
Josh and Rose will be hoping for better fortune with their upcoming renovations than the previous occupant Noel Edmonds had. The TV host moved there in October 2006 but became embroiled in a bitter court battle after being sued for not paying a former friend for the building work.
He later sold the house in August 2008 but was forced to pay Ulrik Lawson £600k after a court ruling against him.
Speaking on the Parenting Hell podcast, Josh had previously spoken about the history of his home and told fellow comic Rob Beckett: ‘Just to be clear, it isn’t in Crinkley Bottom – it isn’t the house we used to see on Saturday nights on the TV.’
Josh and Rose also own a £1M holiday home in Mullion, Cornwall, that they restored and now rent out to holidaymakers.