Johnny Depp mansion plan near Romsey approved

The scheme will see Golden Hill, in Belbins, Romsey, converted into three two-bedroom flats and seven three-bedroom flats.

Test Valley Borough Council's southern area planning committee approved the plans unanimously.

The proposal was well-received by the committee after original plans to convert it into 13 flats in May 2018 stalled due to Covid.

Cllr Alan Dowden said: “This is a massive building, so I'm pleased to see that it will become 10 flats.”

Cllr Dowden asked if the plans included a helicopter pad as he said that was included in the previous scheme. The council's planning officer confirmed that it was not part of the new plan.

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The 22,000 sq mansion, which is set in 11 acres off Sandy Lane, began construction in 2004 but was never fully completed and occupied.

It was built as a substantial, exclusive residence complete with a host of features including a 34-seat cinema, 15-berth nuclear shelter, secret underground escape tunnel, underground aquarium, man-made lake, 50ft master bedroom and underground garage big enough for 10 cars.

It also had 12 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, seven kitchens and two-bedroom staff apartment.

It went on the market in 2009 for £7.5m and it even caught the eye of footballer John Terry who turned it down because it was too far from Chelsea's training ground in Surrey. The house was also rumoured to have been considered by Johnny Depp when a neighbour thought she saw him in the back of a passing car.