KEY POINT
- Pippa Middleton and James Matthews faced objections over an electric gate restricting access to a footpath crossing their Barton Court Estate.
- West Berkshire Council ordered the removal of a car park built without planning permission on protected countryside land.
- Bucklebury Farm accumulated reported losses of £807,543 by 2025 before the couple sold the property.
The year brought a series of property related challenges for Middleton and her husband, James Matthews. One dispute centered on a public footpath running through the couple’s Barton Court Estate in Berkshire.
The couple installed an electric gate as part of efforts to strengthen security, restricting access along the route. Eugene Futcher, chairman of the West Berkshire Ramblers, told the Mail on Sunday that people had used the footpath for years and argued that alternative routes would force pedestrians onto a dangerous main road. GB News also reported the concerns surrounding the dispute.
Another issue involved a car park constructed on land within a National Landscape, an area carrying enhanced environmental protections. Although the property forms part of the couple’s estate, planning permission was required for the development.
According to the supplied reporting, permission was sought only after the construction had already taken place. West Berkshire Council subsequently ordered in August 2026 that the car park be removed.
The challenges extended beyond Barton Court Estate to Bucklebury Farm, which Middleton and Matthews bought in 2020. The property included a petting zoo, glamping facilities, a children’s play area, a cafe and a 44-acre deer park.
The farm also became the subject of local criticism over ticket prices. Residents quoted by the Daily Mail accused the owners of changing the character of a place that had previously been popular with local families.
Middleton later pursued plans for a nursery at the farm, pointing to a lack of daytime childcare facilities in the surrounding area. However, the planning situation became disputed.
The Daily Mail reported in August 2025 that the nursery had received council approval, while Hello! reported in May 2026 that the couple had not actually secured the necessary approval. Hello! also reported that the farm had accumulated losses of £807,543 by 2025.
The reported financial figures became a major factor in the farm’s future. After the couple’s only bid to rescue the property was rejected, they ultimately decided to sell Bucklebury Farm.
The supplied material therefore shows two distinct difficulties during Middleton’s 2026 story: disputes surrounding development and public access at her estate, alongside the financial problems that preceded the sale of her family-oriented farm business.
