Ronan Keating gets the green light to build a huge carport in his £5million mansion to protect his McLaren and Mercedes engines – and prevent it from getting wet when it rains
Ronan Keating has been given the thumbs up for building a huge carport at his new £5million mansion – to avoid getting wet when it rains.
The Life is a Rollercoaster singer applied for permission to erect the massive 9m x 7m structure to house his collection of supercars, including a £200,000 McLaren 650S, a Land Rover Defender and a £100,000 Mercedes G-Wagen.
The Boyzone star complained that his family had struggled to get into their ultra-modern, eco-friendly home without getting wet ‘during the wetter months’.
Keating, 46, and his Australian TV producer wife Storm, 41, were hit by downpours as they returned home from shopping trips and outings with son Cooper, six, and daughter Coco, three.
There were concerns about building a garage for their vehicles on the four-acre site near Rickmansworth, Herts.
Boyzone star Ronan, 45, stays just outside the capital with his model wife Storm, 41, and their two young children, Cooper, six, and Coco, three
The house has been built from scratch in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Hertfordshire
Plans have been approved for a covered carport on the ‘zero carbon’ outdoor accommodation
Keating owns a variety of flash bikes, including this Land Rover Defender – one of the last built before the revamp
Ronan Keating owns a variety of high-end performance cars, including a £100,000 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 4×4 (above)
Keating’s car collection also includes a £200,000 McLaren 650S supercar (stock image)
But they sidestepped planning issues by applying to build a 3.5 meter high open-sided canopy to avoid blocking the stunning views of the surrounding countryside, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). .
In a statement to the council, Keating’s planning agent said: ‘With small children, buggies, shopping etc the family have found it difficult during the wetter months not to have any form of cover, plus the vehicles have no protection against the elements all year round.’
The family bought the property seven years ago, but it wasn’t until Christmas 2021 that they were finally able to move in.
They decided to demolish the original property and build a brand new dream home after being told that the plumbing and electricity needed to be replaced and that the structure was poor.
After issues with the original builders, earthworks finally started in January 2019 and continued for a further two years.
Keating said the property, with solar panels and air source heat pumps, is a “completely carbon-free home.”
It features an outdoor pool, tennis court, gym, open-plan kitchen and living room with a large marble breakfast bar and outdoor dining area.
But the finishing touches were lacking as there was no place to park their cars.
The family applied for planning permission to add the carport, consisting of four painted steel columns with evergreen climbing plants to blend in with the landscape, and a sandstone rainscreen cladding.
Their planning agent said: ‘The construction of new buildings should be considered inappropriate in the green belt.
‘However, exceptions to this include the extension or alteration of a building, provided this does not result in disproportionate additions exceeding the size of the original building.
‘It is considered that the proposed carport, which is located next to the main house, can be considered such an exception.
‘It is clear that the proposed carport, with its open sides, will be of a scale and design clearly subordinate to the dwelling and of such a height and extent as not to adversely affect the openness of the green belt.’
Storm Keating showed off the house on her Instagram and mapped the entire construction online
Ronan Keating and his wife Storm pictured at the Emeralds and Ivy charity ball in 2018
Keating previously obtained planning permission for an underground pool house and studio, and a new entrance wall and gates.
His planning agent said: ‘Given that the applicant’s main source of income comes from music and hosting his breakfast radio show on Magic FM, the need for a studio space is undeniable.’
The parish council objected to his original plans for an ‘imposing and ostentatious’ massive gate, saying they were ‘not in keeping’ with the area.
He then submitted revised plans for a more traditional rural wooden gate with open slats, flanked by a lower flint wall.
Three Rivers District Council officials gave the green light to its latest plans for a carport after there were no objections from neighbours.
Planner Lilly Varnham said: ‘Due to its open character it is not considered that this addition would adversely affect the openness of the green belt as there could still be views of the landscape/site from all four sides of the proposed carport.
“A condition will be added to ensure that the carport remains open on all four sides as the acceptability of the proposed development is related to its openness.
‘In addition, it would be placed on an area of existing hardstanding currently used for parking and would not result in any alteration to the existing land levels on the site and as such is considered to be situated in a suitable location that is not too prominent would be present within the landscape.
‘It is not considered that the proposed carport would result in an overly prominent or intrusive form of development within the setting of the area within the AONB and the conservation area.’
Keating met Storm in 2010 on the Australian version of X Factor and the couple married in August 2015.
The singer was previously married to Yvonne Connolly, before the couple split after 14 years.
They have three children, Love Island star Jack, 24, Missy, 22 and Ali, 18.
The singer became a grandfather when Jack announced in March that he was the father of a daughter.