Comedian Rowan Atkinson has reportedly moved into the "space age petrol station" property which was at the centre of a row with locals.

The actor, 67, bought 1930s Handsmooth House and its 16 acres of land in Ipsden, for £2.6million in 2006.

But he shocked locals when he installed a modern glass and steel mansion in place of the original quaint English home.

He has now moved into the property with his partner Louise Ford who is known to fans for playing Kate Middleton in comedy soap opera The Windsors, the Daily Star reported.

Before Mr Atkinson, Ms Ford dated comedian James Acaster, who she left for the Blackadder star.

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In December 2017 the couple welcomed their first child together whom they named Isla.

The Mr Bean actor bought Handsmooth House with his ex-wife Sunetra Sastry.

Neighbours nicknamed it a “space-age petrol station” and some said the plans were not in keeping with the rest of the area.

The application was approved by South Oxfordshire Council despite having been recommended for refusal.

The application included plans to demolish existing accommodation and build a detached house with a "guest pavilion" and a tennis court.

The site already included a main house, garage, tennis court and other buildings.

Speaking at the planning meeting, Mr Atkinson agreed with the council's conclusion that the house would stand out from, rather than blend in with, the landscape, the BBC reported.

However, he said this was not grounds to reject the plans, but simply a description on how good architecture works.

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Talking about the colour of the house, Mr Atkinson said there was nothing inappropriate about its stark white colour if the building was proportionally designed and he pointed out that the existing house on the site is white.

The application described the design of the property as "not a departure, but rather a reinvention of the traditional country house".

It added: "The home will add to our architectural heritage rather than parody it."

Mr Atkinson's planning consultant Haydn Morris said this would be the first building in the UK which had been designed by Richard Meier - "regarded as one of the world's leading architects".

Mr Atkinson, who said he had lived in the area for 28 years, said he understood the concerns but said his neighbours "need have no fear".

He said he did not want to live in a house that was "weird or futuristic" but one that is "simple, graceful and elegant".

Ipsden Parish Council and the Chilterns Conservation Board were among those to raise objections that the building would be "conspicuous" and look out of character.

However, some residents wrote letters of support for the design as did a number of architects giving their backing to Mr Meier's work.

Planning officers for South Oxfordshire District Council had recommended the plans were refused due to "the angular form, white finish and the extent of the glazing which would result in buildings which appear as stark features in contrast to the rolling rural landscape of the AONB."

In 2017 the state-of-the-art home won the highly-coveted Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) South East award.

Mr Atkinson, who has joined the cast new musical movie Wonka being filmed in Oxford, also owned The Old Rectory in Wallingford.