007 director Sam Mendes wants new pool three times bigger than old one

Pond… James Pond: 007 director Sam Mendes plans to build new swimming pool that’s three times bigger than the old one at his £6M Buckinghamshire country home

• Bond director Sam Mendes applies for bigger swimming pool at Bucks home

As an Oscar-winning filmmaker, Sir Sam Mendes has directed Hollywood stars like Daniel Craig and Leonardo DiCaprio – but when it comes to renovating his £6million country home it’s Buckinghamshire Council calling the shots.

Mendes – best known for his James Bond double-whammy of Skyfall and Spectre – has applied to the local authority for permission to undertake a huge Ground Force-style makeover of his swimming pool and gardens.

But the director, also known for American Beauty and First World War epic 1917, must get permission from local planners to carry out the works because his 17th century Buckinghamshire home is Grade II listed.

A planning application has been submitted to council chiefs to demolish the existing 22ft by 9ft (198 sq ft) outdoor pool and replace it with a bigger one three times as big, measuring 40ft x 15ft (600 sq ft).

Mendes also wants to tear down his existing pool pavilion, replacing it with a new one measuring 45ft by 12ft with a dedicated seating area, laundry room and shower.

The house, which the director has carried out extensive work on, is now believed to be worth at least £6.1million

The existing swimming pool at Sam Mendes’ house, which agents acting on his behalf say is ‘insufficient’ for his needs

Sam Mendes directing Daniel Craig on the set of 2012 spy thriller Skyfall

And he hopes to enhance the garden with a 10ft by 19ft greenhouse within the walled kitchen garden, and an adjacent 15ft by 7ft garden store.

A ha-ha wall – built in front of a blind ditch at the edge of the site boundary – will be extended as part of the works if they are approved.

The house already boasts a Grade II listed barn, cottage, garage and annexe across 0.5 hectares (1.23 acres).

Agents acting for the director and his wife, trumpeter Alison Balsom, said in a letter to the council’s planning services department: ‘On behalf of our clients, Mr and Mrs Mendes, Edgars hereby submits this application seeking householder planning permission and listed building consent for the development as described above.’

Design statements included with the application say that the existing pool and pool house ‘do not meet’ Mendes’ needs and that the changes would ‘enhance the character, appearance and functionality’ of his retreat.

Another statement was more upfront – simply stating that Mendes is hoping to build a bigger pool for his garden.

It read: ‘In its current form, the pool is poorly integrated in to the garden. At 6m x 3m, it is disproportionately small when considering the overall size of the garden. It is insufficient for the owners’ needs and due to its age.’

Mendes – who also directed Gulf War film Jarhead and Revolutionary Road, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet – bought his Buckinghamshire home for £5.5million four years ago.

Aerial renderings of the proposed greenhouse, garden store, pool and pool house pavilion Sam Mendes hopes to build at his Buckinghamshire retreat

Sam Mendes shares the Buckinghamshire home with his wife, trumpeter Alison Balsom (pictured: the pair collecting Mendes’ knighthood in 2021)

It is now believed to be worth £6.1million and since buying the rural dwelling the multi-award winning director has been given the go-ahead on a number of other planning applications.

Since buying the house he has applied to move a greenhouse, build new entrance gates and to carry out a number of repairs on the listed property.

Mendes was awarded a CBE for services to drama in 2000 – and was given a knighthood in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list. 

No objections to his latest submission have been received from locals. Historic England, a statutory consultee for all Listed building applications, have offered no opposition to the proposals.

Officials at Buckinghamshire Council are expected to make a decision on the plans next week (September 14).

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