George Harrison's widow wins permission to build yoga studio in the grounds of ... trends now

George Harrison's widow has been granted permission to build a yoga studio in the grounds of the legendary Beatle's huge mansion.

Olivia Harrison, 74, will now press ahead with plans to site the super-modern structure in the grounds of historic Friar Park. 

George, who died in 2001 aged 58, treated his garden like a temple, buying the Grade II-listed home in 1970 as a quiet escape from London and a place to set up a new recording studio.

Olivia wanted an outdoor gym and a space where she can practise yoga and applied to South Oxfordshire District Council late last year for the mainly glass outbuilding. The building is planned to mirror the pavilion across the garden, which runs to 62 acres.

Henley-on-Thames Town Council also recommended approval and there were no objections from neighbours.

Shaun Tanner Architecture and Planning, which designed the new yoga studio, said in planning documents: 'The choice of materials and elements have been carefully selected to ensure a minimalist and contemporary building is delivered on site, which also relates to the existing pavilion opposite.

'The proposal seeks to deliver an open plan single storey outbuilding, with a flexible layout to meet the proposed use of gymnasium and yoga room, with service equipment concealed inside the walls and a section of the platform being external and creating a small terrace in the front, where the occupant can use for external yoga and exercises as well.'

The building is set to be constructed on a suspended concrete platform finished with porcelain tiles complemented by full glazing walls, iroko wood cladding and a lead roof with painted detailed timber eaves to replicate the eaves detail of the facing pavilion.