Rishi Sunak submits plans for fence around country home after protest

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has applied to a council for permission to install a fence around his home

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants a 165ft (50m)-long fence around his North Yorkshire home, documents reveal.

Plans for a "timber post and rail fence" have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council to consider.

The application states it would offer a "simple visual and modest physical barrier to discourage incursion" at the constituency home near Northallerton.

The move follows a rooftop protest in August by Greenpeace, who challenged oil and gas extraction plans.

The application, lodged on 11 October, called for "a prompt decision given the simplicity of the proposals and site circumstances".

According to the Mail On Sunday, which first reported the application, Downing Street had confirmed that Mr Sunak would pay for the fence himself.

Activists scaled the roof of Mr Sunak's constituency home in North Yorkshire

Campaigners draped the property, in Kirby Sigston, with oil-black fabric to protest against the Government's plans to grant more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.

Five people were arrested by officers from North Yorkshire Police following the protest, which took place while the Richmond MP and his family were on holiday in California.

According to the planning application, the fence would be 4ft (1.2m) high.

The document states: "It is considered that the proposal gives rise to no perceivable harm in heritage terms or from a wider planning perspective and planning permission should be duly granted."

Following the Greenpeace stunt, the PM's spokesman said engagement with the group was no longer "appropriate".