CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver is planning to add further upgrades to his country mansion.

Braintree Council has given the green light for plans to increase security measures outside his home.

The property sits on a 70-acre estate of Spains Hall in Finchingfield and features 12 bedrooms, ten bathrooms, two drawing rooms, and a great hall.

Now, Mr Oliver hopes to beef up his security measures for the property.

The application includes plans to “improve and upgrade the existing secondary access to Spains Hall”.

It said that “temporary gates were put in place as a security measure to prevent unauthorised access and this application seeks permission for the proposed permanent solution".

The application detailed “the installation of paired metal vehicle gates, hung on flint and masonry piers, with metal pedestrian gates and estate fencing extended for 15m either side of the gates".

During a site visit in 2020 from officers from Braintree Council, Essex County Council Place Services, and Historic England, no objection was raised to the addition of gates and fencing in this location

The gates are proposed to be power-operated and are supported by a post-mounted intercom.

Mr Oliver and his family moved into the 16th century building in 2019 and had various applications granted in 2020  including making changes to the front entrance doors, and building a new greenhouse.