was haunted.

Nicholas Sutton, who has owned the Grade II listed country house since 2003, applied for permission to redevelop the main home into five houses in April.

The existing garage and flat are also set to be turned into a Gothic-style cottage while seven properties will be erected by the existing tennis court in the style of a period coach house.

The Grammy Award-winning singer rented Lock House in Partridge Green, Sussex, for six months back in 2012 but famously told a US TV host during a tour that it ‘gives me the creeps.’ Mr Sutton blamed her comments for it not selling despite being on the market for 13 years – with multiple price reductions.

But now neighbours have hit back against his development scheme – slamming it as ‘wholly inappropriate’ as they say it would open the door to the ‘eventual ruination of our precious rural land’.

With more than a dozen objections, members of the public also complained that it would cut through their right of way, with the run-down road not being suitable to take even more traffic.

Others described the spot as a ‘haven of natural beauty, peace and tranquility’ – pleading with the council to stop the work from going ahead.

Responding to the application, one neighbour raged: ‘The access is a bridleway, in truth a farm track, subject to flooding, becoming impassable for extended periods.

The owner of a mansion once rented by singer Adele has given up trying to sell it after 13 years, and has instead applied for permission to divide it up into five homes

Adele told US 60 Minutes host Anderson Cooper that Lock House ‘gives me the creeps’, a comment the current owner Nicholas Sutton blames putting off potential buyers

Property magnates Nick and Ayse Sutton, pictured here at the 13-bedroom mansion in Sussex

‘There is no, or likely to be, formal arrangement which provides for an alternative access. Furthermore it is a working farm, the route used by very large agricultural vehicles on a daily basis.

‘This proposal will inevitably greatly increase the level of traffic raising safety concerns for pedestrians, and as a consequence a negative impact on this very important and increasingly popular amenity for the local community.

‘The three storey buildings proposed for erection in the curtilage of Lock House cannot be considered as an ‘enhancement of it’s immediate setting’ nor ‘sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area’.

‘It is purported that this enabling is to preserve the main building for its historic significance and interesting features. The impression is more that this is a commercial enterprise which could be a forerunner to further overdevelopment.’

Another blasted the suggestion of development, adding: ‘If this application is not refused it will set a precedent that will open the door to other rural land and property owners with the eventual ruination of our precious rural land.’

And a third damningly concluded: ‘Any development within the grounds of Lock House in the vicinity of this important heritage asset would irretrievable damage its position and special character within its historic setting.’

Formerly a convent, the Victorian property has ten bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, staff quarters and a helicopter pad.

The mansion – called Lock House – is in Partridge Green, near Horsham, West Sussex, was built in 1900 and redesigned in the 1930s in an art deco style and has views over South Downs National Park.

Superstar Adele moved into the luxurious West Sussex home in 2012 after making a fortune with her album 21, which had hits including Someone like You and Rumour Has It.

The singer rented Lock House in Partridge Green, Sussex, for six months back in 2012. Pictured: Adele onstage in Munich on August 2

The existing driveway from the main house to the site’s southern access will be extended to create a turning area serving the new coach house style building. Locals say that the roads are not suitable for the development

Formerly a convent, the Victorian property has ten bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, staff quarters and a helicopter pad

Superstar Adele moved into the luxurious West Sussex home in 2012 after making a fortune with her album 21

The 36-year-old later moved to another mansion nearby before moving to LA – with speculation now circling that she may move back to London after announcing her engagement to her fiance Rich Paul last month.

Adele had rented the home off of millionaire property developers Ayse and Nick Sutton, according to Land Registry documents.

Ayse, whose maiden name is Osmanoglu, is a princess of the Turkish Royal Family which once ruled the vast Ottoman Empire for several centuries.

The couple first put the mansion on the market in 2018 for £7.25million, before repeatedly slashing the price tag as they failed to secure a sale.

But neighbours reacted furiously to their change of tack, as they attempt to convert the treasured home.

One neighbour said: ‘This development is an undesirable intrusion into the rural countryside, significantly harming the rural character of the area.

‘The proposal constitutes overdevelopment, adversely affecting the visual amenity, overshadowing residences, and disrupting the existing character of the area.

‘The design and scale of the buildings are out of character with the surroundings, leading to a loss of privacy for neighbors and increased noise and disturbance.

The mansion – called Lock House – is in Partridge Green, near Horsham, West Sussex, was built in 1900 and redesigned in the 1930s in an art deco style and has views over South Downs National Park

The swimming pool and pool house (pictured) are set to be replaced with new detached cottage

The main house boasts a huge 20,000 square feet of space made up of five reception rooms, two studies and an indoor pool on top of 10 bedrooms

If given the go-ahead the garage and flat would be converted into a new home with another seven properties also built on the site

‘Additionally, the traffic and parking requirements are incompatible with the rural setting. For these reasons, I urge the planning committee to reject this application.’

Another, who lives directly opposite the property, highlighted the home’s significance culturally before claiming that it would affect their own way of life.

They said: ‘This is a Grade 2 listed Victorian house with Lutyens features and has historic arts and crafts significance – as seen in its chimneys and architectural features.

‘Changing its use to increase the number of residential properties and to establish multiple dwelling places would destroy a landmark building.

‘Lock Lane is a farm track – raptors hunt on it, children cycle and villagers walk along it. It is a beloved village amenity for rural walks. It also regularly floods – which is part of the natural rhythm and cycle – yet currently requires minimal maintenance for existing residents.

‘Our house lies directly opposite Lock House; it is within a very quiet hamlet of former farm dwellings and further development would compromise our privacy.

‘With increased light pollution and noise from vehicles and families, not to mention the bats and many owls which reside in the adjacent woodland, existing and established wildlife and families would be disturbed.’

And a third resident, who lives in a nearby village, plead with the council to act before her favourite walk was spoilt forever.

After failing to attract interest from buyers despite slashing the price, the owner decided that the only way to sell Lock House was to refurbish the house again, move back in and present it as a loved family home

They added: ‘I was appalled to hear of the planning application that has been proposed. I have been walking on the estate for many years now and find it a haven of natural beauty, peace and tranquility.

‘To build a development will, without doubt, spoil this little oasis of natural splendour. Therefore, I object on many levels.

‘I appreaciate there has to be an increased level of house building, but here up a private lane that is merely a bridlepath in this most wonderful of locations, come on really!’

If given the go-ahead the garage and flat would be converted into a new home with another seven properties also built on the site.

Mr Sutton said in his application that the high profile comments made by Adele had made it difficult to sell the home.

During the tour Adele told 60 Minutes presenter Anderson Cooper that one corridor in particular was ‘quite scary really’.

She also claimed to have heard strange noises in part of the building which used to be a convent – so she reportedly paid a bodyguard £100,000 to stay with her in the listed building.

She said: ‘I’m not rattling around here on my own. It gives me the creeps.’

The front of the property, which was on the market for 13 years before the development application was put in

The home has had a number of difficult tenants, including a ‘high net worth’ individual from Monaco who stopped paying rent

A planning statement submitted as part of the application has now detailed the troubled 12 years the property has had since those comments.

The statement read: ‘The applicant then rented the property to the singer Adele on a six month contract.

‘Unfortunately, Adele made comments on CBS that Lock House was haunted which has upset the marketing of the property to this day.

‘Following Adele vacating the property it was placed on the market through Savills.

‘They marketed the property for a year in 2012/13 and no offers were received.’

It has been listed several times for sale since – with the price constantly slashed.

The home has also had a number of difficult tenants, including a ‘high net worth’ individual from Monaco who stopped paying rent.

The statement added: ‘The property was then rented through Savills to an individual that Savills credit checked as a high net worth person from Monaco.

Tennis court at the home are set to be removed and replaced with new coach house style building

‘A two year tenancy agreement was signed. The tenant only ever paid the 1st quarters rent and thereafter it took three years for the applicant to regain possession following the Tenant seeking postponement for their gender re-alignment surgery.’

After failing to attract interest from buyers despite slashing the price, the owner decided that the only way to sell Lock House was to refurbish the house again, move back in and present it as a loved family home.

But the owner wrote: ‘Not only has there been no offers but there has been only one viewing in 9 months.

‘The property has been marketed for £500,000 less than the latest Red Book Valuation on the property of £6.75m dated 3 October 2022.’

Mr Sutton said capital costs of £1,835,715 were also needed to repair the existing heritage asset.

He added in his statement: ‘Lock House has been actively marketed now for 13 years with no buyers coming forward.

‘The only offer ever received in the whole period was in August 2020, but the purchaser quickly withdrew when they considered the house was haunted as stated by Adele when she was a tenant. ‘

He added: ‘The application seeks to sensitively convert Lock House to five dwellings together with the enabling development of seven dwellings by the existing tennis court in a period style coach house and the replacement of the existing garage block with flat over with a new Gothic style cottage.

‘The proposals will secure the long-term future of this Grade II listed building, ensuring the preservation into perpetuity and overall, the proposals result in heritage benefits.

‘Overall, the proposals will result in significant benefits in planning terms, and not least the delivery of much needed new housing within the local area.’

A decision will be made on the application by the council at a future date