Ewan McGregor has submitted a fresh planning application for further works at Glencarse House
Elizabeth Debicki and Ewan McGregor bought Glencarse House in 2023(Image credit: Getty Images)
Ewan McGregor has submitted a fresh planning application for further works at Glencarse House, the Category C-listed country home he purchased in 2023 for a reported £2.35 million.
The latest proposal seeks planning permission to replace the existing roof and carry out general improvements to the building's envelope.
McGregor, best known for his roles in Star Wars and Trainspotting, has had previous run-ins with his local council, Perth and Kinross Council with this application his planning challenge.
Application seeks to replace defective roof and install new rooflights
Glencarse House is said to have a damaged lead roof in need of replacement(Image credit: Google Earth)
McGregor's new application seeks permission to remove the existing lead roof on Glencarse House and replace it with a single-ply membrane roof.
Also included in the plans is the replacement of existing rooflights with aluminium-framed, double-glazed units.
According to the submission, the works are intended to address a damaged roof that is no longer fit for purpose.
Because the property is Category C-listed, all proposed changes are subject to scrutiny under the Planning (Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
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Past planning troubles and unauthorised works
This latest application follows a series of planning challenges at Glencarse House. In 2023, a replacement garage was built on the estate without listed building consent, prompting a planning enforcement investigation.
Council officers confirmed that a breach of planning control had taken place, resulting in retrospective applications being submitted and approved in August 2024.
In early 2024, a separate application (24/00316/LBC) covering internal alterations – including changes to doors, plasterwork, and joinery – was also approved after unauthorised modifications were identified during a site inspection.
These included CCTV cameras and internal structural changes that required listed building consent.
A previous application for works had also been rejected, prompting revised submissions and additional scrutiny by conservation officers.
Ongoing renovation journey
If approved, the latest round of works would be another step in McGregor’s ongoing efforts to restore and modernise the 18th-century mansion, set within 18.5 acres of private parkland.
The property includes a ten-bedroom main house, a two-bedroom lodge, and features such as a wine cellar, conservatory and biomass boiler.
For now, the fate of the application remains in the hands of Perth and Kinross Council. Meanwhile, locals, heritage enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike wait to see how this real-life renovation saga unfolds.
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
