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Alan Titchmarsh Sells £4M Home as 160-Home Development Looms — Is the Timing Just Coincidence?

By on Monday, December 8, 2025

Alan Titchmarsh Sells £4 Million Estate as Massive Housing Development Looms — Pure Coincidence or Something More?

For more than two decades, Alan Titchmarsh has been the quiet heart of Holybourne — a man whose gardening wisdom, warmth, and steady presence made his four-acre Hampshire estate feel as iconic as any TV set he’s ever worked on. But now, at 76, the beloved broadcaster is preparing to say goodbye to his £4 million Georgian home, a property he and his wife Alison have cherished for 23 years.

Officially, Titchmarsh says the decision is simple: the garden has outgrown him.

But the timing has raised eyebrows — and stirred debate across the village.

Just beyond the hedgerows of Titchmarsh’s estate lies a 15.6-hectare stretch of land earmarked for 160 new homes. A proposed development so large, so transformative, that many residents fear it will forever change the character of their rural community.

So villagers are asking a question the gardener himself has politely dismissed:

Is Alan Titchmarsh really leaving because of his garden —
or because a new housing estate is about to rise just behind his home?

🏡 A £4 Million Estate Hits the Market

Titchmarsh’s property, Manor Farm House, has officially been listed for £3.95 million, offering buyers a slice of English countryside history: a Grade II–listed Georgian manor wrapped in orchards, sculpted lawns, and the personal touch of Britain’s best-known gardener.

The TV star says the estate has simply become too much to manage.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to look after a garden of this size for much longer,”
he admitted, noting that he’d like to downsize and live closer to his daughters and grandchildren.

And yet — villagers can’t help but notice the coincidence.

🚧 The Development That Has the Village Furious

Developers have proposed building 160 new houses immediately behind Titchmarsh’s property, effectively expanding Holybourne in a way locals say is completely disproportionate.

Concerns include:

  • 🚗 Increased traffic on narrow village lanes

  • 🌳 Loss of green fields and wildlife habitats

  • 🏘️ Fear of suburban sprawl

  • 💧 Pressure on infrastructure and water systems

  • 🏫 Overcrowded schools and community facilities

Residents have mounted a fierce campaign to oppose the plans, arguing the project would permanently disrupt the rural character of the village.

And while Titchmarsh insists the development didn’t influence his decision, others aren’t convinced — especially since the new homes would sit just yards from his freshly-listed estate.

🌱 Titchmarsh’s Response: It’s Not About the Houses

Despite the anger among locals, Titchmarsh remains calm — even diplomatic.

“The village will remain a delightful place to live, with or without additional housing,”
he said.
“The proposed development has nothing to do with our decision to move.”

He maintains that the relocation is purely personal: downsizing, being closer to family, and accepting that maintaining four acres isn’t as easy as it once was.

But villagers argue that even if Titchmarsh isn’t leaving because of the housing scheme, the development will absolutely impact Holybourne — and his sale now, before construction begins, is perfectly timed.

🕰️ What Happens Next?

East Hampshire District Council is expected to make a final decision on the housing proposal early next year. In the meantime:

  • The village remains fiercely divided

  • Property watchers are paying close attention

  • And potential buyers must factor a massive development into their decision

Whether Titchmarsh is leaving at the perfect time or simply turning a page in his personal life, one thing is clear:

Holybourne is about to change.
And the gardener who tended its soil for 23 years won’t be around to see what grows next.

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