Boris Johnson is trying to build an outdoor swimming pool at his new mansion after resigning in disgrace as an MP.
The ex-PM has applied for planning permission for the lavish works in the grounds of his Cotswolds grand manor house as Brits struggle to pay their bills amid rising costs and interest rate hikes.
Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie paid £3.8million in cash for the nine-bedroom country pile in May this year. The 400-year-old property in Oxfordshire is set in nearly five acres, which already include its own walled garden, moat and a tennis court.
An application was made to the local council last month for the development of a 11m x 4m swimming pool, surrounded by a tiled area. It is currently in the consultation stage with a target decision date set for next month.
However, Mr Johnson is already facing a hurdle in the form of a warning from the local County Archaeological Services.
Due to the property’s location in a site of “considerable archaeological interest” it has recommended that Mr Johnson should be required to monitor for important archaeological finds if planning permission is granted.
The grounds are believed to have been the location of a 12th century siege castle.
Several responses also appear to have been filed by his neighbours.
Mr Johnson, who this week announced the birth of his eighth child, has earned a staggering amount since leaving 10 Downing Street in July 2022.
In February he trousered a £2.5million advance from the Harry Walker speaking agency.
And together with a £510,000 advance for his memoirs, his earnings since quitting as PM have come to nearly £5million.
On top of this, he is understood to be raking in £1million over two years for his new role as a newspaper columnist.
Mr Johnson resigned as an MP last month ahead of a damning Commons report that found he had lied and lied and lied over Partygate.
The public footed the £245,000 bill for his lawyers during the Privileges Committee investigation.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “If Boris Johnson can afford to pay for a swimming pool, surely he could have paid his own legal fees for the Partygate inquiry instead of taxpayers having to stump up the cash.
“He should finally do the right thing and reimburse these legal costs. It is an outrage that hardworking families’ money was used to defend Johnson’s lies and law-breaking.”
If Mr Johnson’s pool plans are successful, he will be emulating Rishi Sunak, who recently completed work on a new heated swimming pool at his North Yorkshire manor house.
The PM’s pool uses so much energy that the local electricity network had to be upgraded to meet its demands. At the same time, local councils are struggling to keep open public swimming pools as they are hit by the double whammy of cuts and soaring energy bills.
Figures from Swim England show that since October last year, around 350 facilities have been hit by service reductions, temporary and permanent closures.
Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty last year hit out at pool closures. He said: "We have to think about people's mental health and wellbeing. People are struggling to deal with life and their emotions. You need access to sport and facilities.
"If I wake up in the morning and feel angry, I go training. We need that to create a happier and healthier nation."
Mr Johnson’s spokesman declined to comment.
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