Neighbours slam James Corden for leaving £8m Henley mansion untouched while heading back to the US

James Corden has sparked fury among his Neighbours in Henley-on-Thames after leaving his ambitious £8 million home renovation project in limbo. The 46-year-old actor, known for his role on The Late Late Show in the US, purchased Templecombe House, a 1960s art-deco property, four years ago with grand plans to transform it into his family’s “forever home.”

Corden intended to renovate the house completely for his wife Julia Carey and their three children — Max, Carey, and Charlotte. However, recent aerial photos show minimal progress, with the property still standing largely untouched despite planning approval being granted over a year ago by Wokingham Borough Council.

The lack of visible work has sparked a backlash from locals, especially as news emerged that Corden plans to return Stateside later this summer for a temporary Broadway stint. Many feel the star has effectively “abandoned” the home he vowed to renovate.

Jayne Worral, a local landlady, expressed sharp criticism to the Daily Mail: “He should live in it or sell it so a family can live in it. It’s shameful to buy anywhere with that sort of standing and then have no one benefit from living in it. He should be ashamed. It’s not fair.”

Another resident, Sue Harris, added: “It would be a shame if he left it empty, as we get a lot of characters wanting to live here.” Others noted that Corden had made a significant fuss over getting the renovations approved exactly as he wanted, only to now leave the project stalled.

Corden and his family returned to the UK after spending several years in the US, where he built his late-night career. But the lengthy delays have left neighbours frustrated and wondering if the actor’s commitment to the property has waned.

The property itself, Templecombe House, is situated in a leafy, affluent area near Henley-On-Thames, well-known for its picturesque charm and high-value homes. Corden’s vision was to demolish the existing structure entirely and rebuild it to suit his family’s needs. The ambitious scale of the project meant the actor needed several permissions from the council, which took time to process.

Despite receiving the green light in 2023, the renovations have yet to begin in earnest. Locals are dismayed that such a prestigious property remains largely untouched while others in the community struggle to find housing.

Corden’s plans for Templecombe House were widely publicised when he bought the property, raising expectations that the project would revitalise the neighbourhood. Instead, the stalled work and looming US departure have prompted angry comments from residents who feel let down by the celebrity homeowner.

While the actor’s career continues to thrive, the fate of his Henley estate has become a source of tension, with neighbours insisting the home should either be lived in or sold to benefit the local community.

As Corden prepares for his upcoming Broadway run, questions remain over when — or if — the renovations on his £8 million property will ever be completed.