James Corden's home in Henley still boarded up 2 years on

The Gavin and Stacey star bought Templecombe House in 2020 and was expected to move there with his family following eight years in America.

Back in January 2023, plans to knock down the home and replace it with a new six-bedroom mansion were approved subject to conditions.

Before the project could go ahead, Corden's agents had to agree on a series of 'obligations' through a section 106 legal agreement, with the local planning authority, Wokingham Borough Council.

Despite initial objections from the local council and English Heritage, an agreement was reached - meaning James was expected to start work on building his dream home.

But now, more than two years since approval was granted, fresh aerial pictures show no apparent visible work has been carried out - leaving the site unoccupied with no indications on when any further steps will be taken.

Planning documents on the original application show he had originally wanted new leisure facilities including an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna and steam room alongside the development.

However, his scheme was only given the go ahead once these aspects of his plans had been dropped.

Corden also had to make several concessions in the planning process, such as implementing lighting measures to protect bats, badgers, and glow worms.

Additionally, landscaping was ordered to be done to preserve the 45 granite megalithic stones on the grounds.

Corden was also ordered to commission a series of test trenches across the site and allow archaeologists on-site.

English Heritage had deemed the pool house to be too close to the historic collection of 45 vertical granite megalithic stones that form a circle in the Grade II listed grounds.

The Mont de la Ville 'dolmen' was first discovered on the island in the 18th century and given as a present to then Jersey governor Henry Seymour Conway in 1788.

Field Marshal Conway, as he later became, then had the dolmen transported to his Henley-on-Thames estate, where it was re-erected and remains to this day.

Officials in Jersey had earlier said they were hoping to return the monument back to the island and would seek support from the television presenter.

Corden acquired the Mont de la Ville dolmen when he purchased Templecombe House in Berkshire.

Mr Corden and his wife, Julia, paid £8.5million for the property near Henley-on-Thames, a 43-acre estate that includes the dolmen. 

The original country house was built in 1869 and is believed to have been used as a boarding school from 1948 until it was demolished and replaced with the current house in 1961.

At the time the decision was made to approve the rebuild, Templecombe House had fallen into disrepair and had urban explorers entering the grounds.

Corden has planning permission to replace the home with a two-storey six-bedroom property with a basement, a large internal courtyard area, kitchen, living room, dining room and a breakfast room opening onto a large terrace area with playroom. It will also include two study areas, three bathrooms and a boot room

The first floor will be comprised of five ensuite bedrooms and a main bedroom with two ensuites and opening onto a balcony.

Documents showed the existing tennis court would be kept but extensive landscaping work would be carried out across the site.

Detailed construction details for the new building were also approved by the council in March last year.

These related to the protection of animals and trees and flood mitigation measures prior to the construction.

It was previously reported that James, along with his wife Julia and their three children, had intended to move into the house located in Henley-on-Thames, on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire as soon as possible.