Harry Potter star Rupert Grint has been granted permission to build a controversial eco mini-village at his £5.4million Hertfordshire mansion - four years after he submitted the application.
In return for the green light, the 37-year-old actor will have to pay nearly £200,000 to support schools, special needs services and the local council.
Grint, who played Ron Weasley in JK Rowling's hit series, had enraged neighbours with his plans to build 15 new houses on his estate at Kimpton Grange near Hitchin.
One homeowner in the quaint village of Kimpton, which has a population of just 2,261, denounced the proposals as a 'tragic act of vandalism'.
Ecologists at Hertfordshire County Council, who were acting as a consultee in the application, also said bats were present in the main manor house on the estate.
Under the plans, Grint was seeking to convert the existing 18th-century Grade-II listed manor house into six separate apartments.
Four two-bed terraced affordable houses would be further erected, alongside one five-bed, two four-bed and two two-bed detached eco-homes.
The project was praised as 'groundbreaking' for its sustainability as it also features a pond to enhance biodiversity and sustainability.
Rupert Grint bought Kimpton Grange, Hertfordshire, in 2009 for £5.4million
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in JK Rowling's hit series, had enraged neighbours with his plans to build 15 new houses on his estate at Kimpton Grange near Hitchin
A proposed masterplan of Rupert Grint's renovation plans for his Hertfordshire estate
A planning committee voted in favour of the project in November 2024, but the council only filed its decision notice on Friday after coming to a legal agreement with Grint's team.
Due to its substantial size, a Section 106 agreement has been reached, requiring the actor to pay a substantial contribution to 'mitigate the impact of development on the local community and infrastructure’.
According to the document, he will give £100,000 to Kimpton Parish Council which will go 'towards the maintenance of the Open Space Land'.
A further £70,513 will contribute to the expansion of Katherine Warington School in Harpenden and £11,401 will go 'towards the delivery of new Severe Learning Difficulty special school places'.
Another £2,519 will be paid to 'increase the capacity of Hitchin library' and £1,974 to be 'applied towards sourcing a new exclusive or shared use lounge people's centre serving Hitchin'.
And finally, £680 is to be given to the county council, adding up to a total of £187,087.
A North Herts District Council spokesperson said of the delay: 'We're waiting on the S106 to be finalised before it can be signed off.
The estate is located near Hitchin in Hertfordshire (Pictured: Artist impression of redevelopment plan)
Satellite view of the estate (pictured in blue) near Hitchin in Hertfordshire
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'The application was granted subject to the completion of a satisfactory legal agreement as per the Officer report.'
Grint has invested heavily in Kimpton Grange, which is set over 22 acres, after he bought it in 2009.
He submitted the plans for the development in October 2022, provoking the concern of many in the quaint village of Kimpton.
At a planning meeting, local Davina Malcolm denounced the plans, calling them 'a tragic act of vandalism'.
She added in one interview: 'I am really cross about this. As many as 50 established trees may have to go under these plans.
'This is green belt land and there really is no need to build more houses here.'
Meanwhile, councillor and Conservative leader Ralph Muncer said they contravened green belt and conservation area rules.
He said: 'I would submit to you that the sighting of these properties does indeed cause harm to both [green belt and conservation area] and the scheme should be rejected, enabling the scheme developer to find a less harmful sight for the affordable housing and integrate it better within the overall scheme.
There is also a large pond fed by the River Kym - which will feature as a key point of the development, enhancing biodiversity and sustainability
'In the early stages of the application, these concerns were identified and raised by the parish council and myself to the developer in a meeting it is therefore disappointing the applicant has completely failed to amend these proposals to take into account the concerns of local communities.
'It causes harm to the green belt in Kimpton, it causes harm to the conservation area in Kimpton.'
The decision notice states that Grint's team will have to build new and replacement bus shelters, and pavements, 'to ensure residents and visitors of the development have the realistic option of travelling by local bus routes'.
A construction management plan and archaeological written scheme of investigation will have to be submitted before any construction starts plus construction will have to adhere to a strict drainage agreement, as there were fears of increased flooding.
The local Flood Authority initially objected to the proposals saying that it was 'likely to increase flood risks' and that Grint had failed to provide 'sufficient information' about 'watercourses that could be utilised for the discharge of surface water'.
Rupert Grint's representatives have been contacted for comment.
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