An application has been submitted to the Edinburgh City Council seeking permission for large tree house structures to be built in the garden of
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's Edinburgh home.
Filed by the author’s husband, Dr Neil Murray, the application states that the structures are for their children to play in and will cost approximately £150,000 to build. It also set out plans for the structures, which, if realised, propose two 40ft (12m) high double storey structures, complete with a connecting rope bridge and a secret tunnel entrance. Overall, the tree houses bare quite a striking resemblance to Hogwarts castle, the famous magical school imagined by Rowling herself.
Built on wooden stilts and made entirely from timber acquired in sustainably managed forests, the tree houses are also said to feature lanterns, balconies and various carving decorations.
It has been reported that the tree houses are for Rowling’s children to play in, with each tree house aptly named after her two youngest children, seven-year-old David and nine-year-old Mackenzie.
The family currently resides in a 17th century mansion in Edinburgh, which has been nicknamed "Fortress Rowling" by some. During her time there, Rowling has been given the green light on several large-scale adjustments, including depositing huge trees into her backyard to give her and her family more privacy and flattening a £1 million 1970s house next door in order to extend her garden.
"Nobody around here is going to make a fuss about the tree houses for her children. It’s her cash she can do what she wants with it," a neighbour
said."Miss Rowling has spent a lot of money on trees surrounding her property so even if these tree houses are huge nobody but her is going to see them. In any case she’s extremely nice and well-liked around here."
This latest venture required Rowling to seek permission from the Edinburgh City Council simply because the tree houses are so large.
"It would be highly unlikely that JK Rowling will not get permission for these tree houses," an Edinburgh Council source said. "They are only for her children to play in, she’s not seeking permission for residential permission for them."
If permission is granted, the building of the tree houses will be undertaken by leading tree house architects Blue Forest, who pride themselves on creating "fantasy castles" and "James Bond-style hideaways."
"Tree houses have always been a symbol of imagination and creativity," Blue Forest managing director Andy Payne said.