Ed Sheeran has submitted plans to build a burial chamber under the floor of the new boat-shaped church which is being erected in the grounds of his vast £3.7million Suffolk ‘mini-village’ dubbed Sheeranville.
New photographs show that the place of worship is currently under construction and is covered in scaffolding, while it could soon be joined by a burial zone which would be entered through a slab in the floor.
The latest plans mean the 30-year-old pop star could be buried in the grounds of his home in the village of Framlingham if the plans which have been submitted for the tomb are get the go-ahead from council officers.
Sheeran’s private place of retreat has been modelled with curved walls on the plan and in elevation, which give it a sweeping boat-shaped feel. The burial chamber, which according to the plans would be at the back of the building, would measure 8.9ft (2.71m) by 5.9ft (1.8m) which is around the size of a double grave plot.
Sheeran, who has a net worth of £220million, originally failed to get permission for a chapel in his garden but in 2019 he submitted scaled down plans which were approved by his neighbours as well as the parish council.
Construction has just started on the new building for contemplation and prayer – which is on the north of Sheeran’s main house, Wynneys Hall, and close to the eastern boundary of the estate.
Ed Sheeran has submitted plans to build a burial chamber under the floor of the new boat-shaped church which is being erected in the grounds of his vast £3.7million East Suffolk ‘mini-village’ in Framlingham, dubbed Sheeranville
Ed Sheeran (left, pictured last October) is building a place of worship on the site (right) which is currently under construction and is covered in scaffolding, while it could soon be joined by a burial zone which would be entered through a slab in the floor
The place of worship will have a lead roof, flint walls and stained glass windows (artist’s impression is pictured)
Sheeran’s place of retreat has been modelled with curved walls on plan and in elevation, which give it a boat-shaped feel
Scaffolding has been put up and the tall tower, which is at one end of the building, is now under construction.
The building will have a lobby and a nave downstairs, with a spiral staircase to a small gallery, and a main space for activity. The place of worship will have a lead roof, flint walls and stained glass windows.
The roof is leaf-shaped and the original plans say the design is reflective of shapes and forms that are familiar to everyone, allowing each person to interpret its symbolism in their own way, which reflects the principle of it being multi-use and non-denominational.
The original application stated it would be a private place of retreat for contemplation and prayer, for celebration of key life and family milestones, family and social gatherings, marriages, christenings and so forth.
It said Sheeran had guests visiting from around the world, who all have different faiths and customs and he wanted to provide a space in which he, his family and these visitors could retreat to for contemplation, prayer and relaxation, to meet celebrate and meditate in peace and safety from disturbance.
Sheeran has spent £4million buying five houses to create his country estate, dubbed Sheeranville, and an additional £3million on extensive renovations – including a pub, tree house, underground music room and tunnels.
He has also added a £500,000 wildlife pond, an outdoor kitchen and a football pitch.
Sheeran has spent months landscaping the huge estate which includes a walled kitchen garden, an orchard, a mini paddock for chickens, goats and sheep and an entertainment area with a hot tub and fire pit.
In November 2019 it was reported that he may have to open his church to the public following a row with his local council.
The millionaire music star lodged plans to open the boat-shaped ‘prayer retreat’ to be used as a private venue, but his local parish council then claimed that the venue would need to be publicly accessible for at least three years in order to be licenced. It stressed that the current plans were not legal.
Dennington Parish Council Clerk Lydia Kirk said at the time: ‘The applicant’s statement of need describes the use of the ancillary building as a potential venue for marriages, christenings etc. for family and close friends.
‘The parish council notes that additional licences would be required under the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005.
‘Which would require the licensed premises to be accessible and available for public use for a period of three years. As such, this proposed use would be out-with the scope of the current application which is for a private use ancillary building only.’
Donald Insall Associates, Ed Sheeran’s planning agent for the project, said: ‘It would address an important need for a private place of retreat for contemplation and prayer, for celebration of key life and family milestones, family and social gatherings, marriages, christenings, and so forth.
Construction has started on the church on the north of Sheeran’s main house and close to the eastern boundary of the estate
Sheeran originally failed to get permission for a chapel in his garden but in 2019 he later submitted scaled down plans
After amassing an estimated £160million fortune, the superstar singer has set about creating his own extraordinary estate – dubbed ‘Sheeranville’ – including five properties bought for a total of £3.7 million. Pictured, his estate in 2019
Mini-village: Sheeran has spent £4million buying five houses to create his Suffolk country estate, dubbed Sheeranville
‘It would also allow the applicant’s family, friends and colleagues to be able to enjoy these things and join them in their observance.
‘The proposed building would be a space truly ancillary to the main house but apart from it in order to provide calm and separation.
‘The applicant has guests and visiting colleagues, people from around the world.
‘Many of these people are from many countries, faiths and customs, including for example the USA, Ireland, Ghana, Nigeria, Asia and Australia.’
Sheeran has since come to an agreement with the Parish council regarding his new place of worship.
Sheeranville is not without controversy with the singer clashing with his neighbours in the past.
The star has been involved in several legal disputes over his rights and his neighbours’ rights to expand their respective landmasses.
In 2020 the singer’s neighbour, Anthony Robinson, won a battle against the superstar who rejected Mr Robinson’s plans to extend his back garden.
Mr Robinson, who lives three houses along from the pop star’s estate, was given permission to make his back garden 160 feet bigger despite Sheeran’s objections.
Mr Robinson already owned the field behind his four bedroom home – which is worth £550,000 – and wanted to incorporate some of it into his private garden.
But Sheeran, who had undertaken his own vast building project just a few hundred feet away, did not want the space to be domesticated. He claimed it would ‘extend the village into the countryside in an unplanned and artificial way’.
Although the council objected to Mr Robinson’s proposal initially many neighbours wrote in to support him and his plans were eventually approved.
Sheeran’s boat-shaped place of worship was originally challenged by the council but has now been passed
Construction has just started on the new building for contemplation and prayer as the new pictures show
The singer, 30, is also said to own 27 properties in London as part of his impressive £57million portfolio
Scaffolding has been put up and the tall tower, which is at one end of the building, is currently under construction
In June 2020 the singer had to fight to be able to keep the 16ft pub sign he had hung outside a barn converted into a drinking den.
Although he had been given planning permission for the pub in 2017 he had not been given permission for the sign which caused locals to question why it was there.
Sheeran was also told he could not swim in his wildlife pond after he was granted permission to build it under the condition that it was used to provide a natural habitat for frogs, newts and dragonflies.
The council visited his property and specifically forbade ‘recreational leisure such as swimming’. He was also forced to remove his outside sauna, in a caravan next to the pond, after neighbours complained.
Sheeran bought his first home in the site, a new build, for around £900,000 back in 2012.