Ed Sheeran has pretty much succeeded at everything he’s done in the music business. He shot to fame when, as a teenager, he independently released his music and reached number two on iTunes, selling over 7,000 copies in just one week. The following month he performed to over a thousand fans at a free show (repeated on four further occasions, just in case anyone had missed it) – and all before he was noticed by a record company. His estimated worth is now over £80 million.
Sheeran is a man used to success, and so far Ed has managed to keep his wedding plans under wraps. But we know something that Ed Sheeran definitely won’t be doing on his Big Day – getting married in the chapel he wants to build on his estate!
The singer dreamed of marrying his 26-year old childhood sweetheart, Cherry Seaborn, in a purpose-built flint chapel at his home in Suffolk. The planning application to Suffolk Coastal District Council stated the chapel would be for ‘spiritual regeneration’ of traditional, and less traditional, types.
The singer-songwriter made his planning application not long after popping the question in January, but his plans soon attracted concern about the effect on the local wildlife. The site on which the building is proposed is believed to be home to a colony of endangered great crested newts which the Suffolk Wildlife Trust were concerned could be affected by the building.
However, despite the singer’s pledge to carry out an ecological survey, it emerged yesterday that planning officials had rejected the application outright. The planning department ruled against the marriage in the Saxon-style chapel after deciding it might not fit in with the landscape, due to its 48ft round tower. Planners were also concerned that the building could cause light pollution and give the impression of a second church in the village.
It is not known what plans Sheeran will now make for his wedding.
It doesn’t appear to be a great time for the singer, who is currently being sued for a whopping £76 million for allegedly copying parts of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 song ‘Let’s Get It On’. Legal documents state that Sheeran’s number 1 hit single from 2014 called ‘Thinking Out Loud’ copies the rhythms, melody, harmonies, drums, bass line, backing chorus, tempo, syncopation and looping of Gaye’s song. The company ‘Structured Asset Sales’ has brought the claim forward as they own part of the copyright to Gaye’s song. Sheeran’s spokesman has refused to comment on the matter.
Even if you aren’t planning to build a 48ft tower on your new property, get a survey carried out by an independent Chartered Surveyor when buying new property in England and Wales.
MRE/SH