James Corden has sold his £8.5 million Oxfordshire property, ending a long-delayed countryside self‑build that never got off the ground.
The actor and presenter bought the estate in 2020 with plans to demolish the existing 1960s house and build a new family home.
Although planning permission was granted in 2023, the project was held up for years as the local council continued to review outstanding Section 106 obligations, and no construction work was ever started.
A self-build project that stalled
Corden purchased the property with the aim of replacing the 1960s house with a modern, self-build home on land of a former Druid site.
His original plans included leisure features such as a swimming pool, sauna, and steam room, though these were later removed during the planning process.
By January 2023, revised plans for a six-bedroom, two-storey house were granted planning permission by Wokingham Borough Council, subject to conditions protecting wildlife, heritage features, and landscaping.
Before the project could legally move forward, the council needed to confirm that all Section 106 obligations were fulfilled, including protections for the ancient stones, woodland management, and drainage measures.
Property left to rot
Even after planning permission was granted, no construction took place, and the property remained unoccupied for years.
Online videos have shown the house in a long-empty state with boarded-up entrances, overgrown gardens, and visible signs of neglect. Local reporting noted that graffiti and broken fixtures are visible.
The Section 106 obligations had not yet been fully signed off by the council, meaning the redevelopment could not legally begin. As a result, the self-build remained stalled despite approved planning, and the property stayed unoccupied while the regulatory review continued.
Sale brings the project to a close
The sale of the estate in early 2026 appears to mark the end of James Corden’s long-planned countryside self-build.
While planning permission existed, the project could not progress because the Section 106 obligations had not been fully discharged. With the house left empty for years and no construction underway, Corden ultimately chose to sell rather than continue with the redevelopment.
This episode highlights how even high-value, well-funded self-build projects can be delayed or abandoned when planning conditions, heritage requirements, and environmental protections take years to resolve.
