Lorraine Kelly’s Possible Move and Property Controversy
Lorraine Kelly, the 66-year-old Scottish TV presenter, has recently been the subject of speculation regarding her potential departure from ITV and a return to Scotland. This comes after she sold her £2.2 million Buckinghamshire mansion, sparking rumors about her future plans.
In 2017, Ms. Kelly moved from Dundee to a luxurious riverside property in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, to be closer to London for her work. The historic home, dating back to 1898, was originally a boathouse featuring a landing stage and a 100ft-wide garden. It also includes a stunning kitchen, a 24ft conservatory, a vaulted drawing room with a wood-burning stove, a summerhouse, and a garden pod.
According to property records seen by the Daily Mail, Ms. Kelly sold the property for £2,225,000 to new owners on October 17 last year. This sale occurred just months after the Glasgow-born star confirmed her intention to return to Scotland to retire. However, reports suggest that her move may have been accelerated due to ITV cuts that reduced her show Lorraine to half its previous airtime since January.
Ms. Kelly, whose legal name is Lorraine Smith, has reportedly been unhappy with these changes and was understood not to have immediately renewed her contract with ITV. A source previously told The Sun: "Lorraine has been secretly planning her next big project away from ITV for ages. She's seen the incredible success of YouTube interview series, all the big names are doing them, like her pal Piers Morgan. Lorraine has huge ambitions and has been in talks about new ideas with some of her former team who she remains extremely close to."
Representatives for Ms. Kelly have denied any plans to leave ITV, and it is currently unknown where she is residing.
Tree Removal Dispute
Ms. Kelly's former property became the center of controversy when she sought to remove a protected tree. She claimed the tree, located near their garage and an electric vehicle charging point, was an obstruction and had outgrown its environment. Her application stated that the tree's falling needles were blocking guttering and down pipes, and bird droppings were falling onto vehicles below.
Planning documents submitted to Wycombe District Council suggested that the tree's crown was encroaching on neighboring properties in a Buckinghamshire village
However, council bosses refused the application after reporting that the tree was "one of several large, mature pines" in the local Conservation Area. Almost half a dozen local residents objected to the controversial plans.
One resident wrote: "This tree has been on site for more years than any of us. It has a right to be there. I could understand if it was about to fall over. Please, please, please do not let this lovely tree be destroyed on a whim of the site owner. Please allow it to live out its life without harm until such time as it becomes a danger."
Another said: "It came as a great shock to me that our neighbour would want the pine tree removed. In this time of conservation, we should all think well before destroying beautiful trees such as this one."
A third neighbor added: "We live here because we love the natural beauty of the area and accept small inconveniences such as regular gutter cleaning and maintenance. We need to support this lovely area and not destroy it, albeit one Corsican pine tree, a tree of great character which we residents are very proud of."
A fourth resident noted: "Needle and leaf drop is an unfortunate fact of life and has to be dealt with by all sensible property owners. Pretty well every property [in the area] is affected by leaf drop in the Autumn."
Historical Significance
Ms. Kelly's former property was once a boathouse for a larger property that is now a care home. The original house was owned by Liberal Party politician, writer, and poet Rudolph Chambers 'R.C.' Lehmann, who rowed for Cambridge University and coached Oxford and Cambridge crews. His daughter Rosamond Lehmann, a novelist, wrote about the boathouse in an autobiography called The Swan in the Evening.
Built in the early 20th century, the boathouse was part of the so-called 'golden age of the Thames,' a time when riverside activities included boat outings, steam launch trips, Venetian fairs, houseboat holidays, regattas, picnics, and carnivals.
ITV and Ms. Kelly's representatives have been approached for comment.