Suffolk Coastal District Council confirms that officers will be inspecting the 'Perfect' hitmaker's estate to check whether the planned pond would be used as a swimming pool instead of natural haven.

• Mar 13, 2019

AceShowbiz - Ed Sheeran is to be investigated over whether a wildlife pond on his sprawling estate will in fact be used as a swimming pool.

The "Dive" hitmaker's plans to build a wildlife pond on his land, situated near his hometown of Framlingham in East Suffolk, England, were approved in 2016, with work on a jetty and equipment building given the go-ahead last year (18).

However, neighbours fear that the new additions to the water feature mean it could be used as a swimming pool rather than a natural haven, and planning officers from Suffolk Coastal District Council will now visit his property to check on the pond.

"As far as we are aware, Suffolk Coastal District Council has not received any recent letters complaining about the use of these ponds, since the matter was dealt with last year," a spokesperson for the council tells WENN. "However, we are aware of the concerns that have now been raised and we will visit the site to investigate this matter."

They add that anyone with evidence the pond was being used for any purpose other than to shelter pond life, should contact their enforcement team. In accepting his planning application, council officials specifically banned the musician from using the water feature for leisure activities like swimming or fishing.

One of Ed's neighbours, Tony Robinson wrote to the council complaining the proposals were intended to create, "an environment for a 'wild lifestyle' rather than actual wild life'," and told the BBC on Monday that his view "still holds true".

In documents filed as part of his application, Ed's planning consultants claim the jetty and sheds are specifically to enable maintenance of the pond. His representative did not respond to a request for comment.

The 28-year-old singer-songwriter previously fell foul of local planning officials last year, as they blocked his plans to build a huge Saxon chapel on his land as it would have not been in keeping with the local landscape.