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Ed Sheeran could be diving head first into a new confrontation with locals after unveiling plans for a wildlife pond at his lavish recording studio complex.

The multi-millionaire pop star wants to dig up farm land to create the feature which is described in planning documents as 'a small habitat pond' to boost biodiversity at his £1.1 million studios which have been dubbed the 'countryside Abbey Road'.

Observers have pointed out that, at more than 9,000 square feet, the pond is actually closer in size to an Olympic swimming pool.

And that has raised fears that the water feature could encourage rock stars using the facilities to dive in and take a dip - promoting 'a wild lifestyle' instead.

The plans include putting in a large wooden boardwalk designed to conceal filtration system equipment and the planting of wildflowers.

The Shape of You and Bad Habit singer was previously at the centre of a furious backlash after videos were posted of him diving into a 'wildlife pond' at his sprawling £3.7 million super-estate which he built nearby and has become known as Sheeranville.

Sheeran, 35, had been given approval for the £500,000 kidney-shaped pond back in 2016 saying it would help 'support nature conservation by providing a natural habitat for insects, amphibians and birds' and in particular 'dragonflies and water beetles'.

It was granted on the understanding that the pond would not be used for swimming.

Ed Sheeran has put in plans for a new 'wildlife pond' on his newly purchased Suffolk estate

Ed Sheeran, pictured, performing at a surprise set for The Darkness at The Roundhouse in 2023

Mr Sheeran admitted to using the 'wildlife pond' on his other estate as a swimming pool

However steps and a jetty were added in 2017 along with a wooden Romany-style caravan, which could be used as a changing room.

Two years later the local council had to carry out an investigation following complaints from neighbours before concluding there had been no planning breach.

But they ordered that the caravan, which had been turned into a sauna, be removed.

Retrospective planning permission for the ladders and jetty was granted provided the pond was not used for swimming and the enforcement case was closed.

It came despite complaints from neighbours who said the pond, which was surrounded by neatly-manicured grass, appeared to be 'more like a swimming pool' raising concerns it would attract a lot of activity during warm weather.

Sheeran insisted the jetty was to 'form interest' and the ladders would be used for cleaning the pond, which was dug in a newly-planted orchard area.

But two years ago locals erupted with anger after Sheeran posted a video on Instagram showing him leaping from the jetty into the water.

Sheeran had in the end been given permission for a change of use to allow 'recreational leisure activity' at the site but one local resident said at the time: 'It seems Ed is now doing what he wants.

Ed Sheeran has purchased a 17th century farmhouse with a moat in the Suffolk countryside

plans for the new 'wildlife pond' at Ed Sheeran's new music studio called Sheeranville 2

The musician, 35, has applied for planning permission to make a massive wildlife pond on his Tannington Lodge estate

'He seems to be getting permission for some things but thinking he can get away with other aspects of his renovations.'

Sheeran now wants to build the new pond on the Tannington Lodge estate - a 17th century farmhouse in Suffolk which has become the focus of his latest ambitious development project which has been dubbed 'Sheeranville II'

A planning statement submitted to Mid Suffolk Council says: 'The proposal is for the creation of a small habitat pond with variable water levels, that will create a diverse wildlife area within the land. The proposed pond will be located within an existing arable field which is currently unused.

'There is a raised bund proposed on the north side that will be planted with mixed native scrub, and a timber boardwalk on the south side that will conceal the filtration system equipment.

'The margins surrounding the pond will be enhanced with a wildflower lawn mix.'

According to the application the pond would make 'good use of an unused area of agricultural land' and would 'enhance the diversity of the wildlife, flora and fauna in the area.'

But one local said: 'Ed's got previous history when it comes to wildlife ponds.

'We don't know what type of musicians will be recording there but rock stars have been known to get up to all sorts of antics including driving Rolls Royces into swimming pools so we'll be keeping a close eye on things.'

The planning proposal, which officials are yet to rule on, adds that there is no intention to 'stock the pond with fish, or to permit fishing' and there 'are no residents nearby that would be adversely affected by the proposals'.

Sheeran - who is worth an estimated £410 million - has had long-running disputes with neighbours since he bought a detached six-bedroom farmhouse near his childhood home just outside the Suffolk market town of Framlingham back in 2012.

He faced a barrage of objections from locals after snapping up five properties.

The collection of farmhouses, cottages and bungalows enabled him to build his own sprawling 16 acre estate compound.

The final home was added in 2019 when he paid £875,000 to buy out next-door neighbour Sharon Jest, who had often objected to his ongoing construction work.

Sheeranville, which has been compared to a small village, has its own pub, football pitch, swimming pool, two storey treehouse, orangery, orchard and an underground complex of music rooms and studios connected by tunnels.

His previous application for a £500,000 'wildlife pond' at his family home in East Suffolk caused huge controversy

Sheeran diving into his pond on the grounds of his £3.7 million Suffolk estate near Framlingham

The singer pictured after jumping into the large kidney-shaped structure on his estate in 2024

When not releasing records, much of Sheeran's energy in recent years has gone into planning battles over everything from the construction of a hay bale wall to whether the pub called The Lancaster Lock should be allowed to have a sign on it.

A further row erupted after Sheeran wanted to build his own Anglo-Saxon-style chapel where he planned to marry his childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn, 34.

His plans were thrown out and he ended up marrying Cherry at a local church just before Christmas in 2018. The couple are now parents to daughters Lyra Antarctica, five, and Jupiter, four.

He was eventually given permission to build his flint-walled chapel which he explained he would use as a place to mourn the people he has lost.

Sheeran later added a crypt which he has said will be his final resting place.

With everything seemingly in place, Sheeran turned his attention to his latest project after quietly buying a farm estate, which includes a Grade II-listed farmhouse for £1,100,000 over two years ago.

He focused at first on turning one of the barns into a recording studio, where he part-wrote the album, Play, and has been given permission to knock down another barn and replace it with a large rehearsal space.

Sheeran also converted a former piggery into a stunning man cave, with a bar, gym, pool table and bowling alley - believed to have cost at least £150,000 to install.

He has also applied for planning permission to renovate six outbuildings in the grounds so he can use them and the main grade-two listed house for storage space for a 'music archive'.

The barns date back from as early as 1870 and currently lie in ruins.

Despite the locals' concerns, Sheeran has insisted to planners that his new studio will be strictly for his own use.

Mr Sheeran has applied for planning permission to renovate six outbuildings in the grounds of Tannington Lodge

They are backed up by the latest documents submitted to the local authority which state: 'The proposed use of the outbuildings is storage/archive space for the owner/family only and there will be no additional vehicles, lighting, equipment installed.'

After taking pre-planning advice, he dropped plans to link the barns to the main farmhouse, but has promised to repair all the buildings, insert new windows, doors, staircases and retain 'as much of the original fabric and form of the outbuildings as possible'.

After submitting his planning application the council's ecology team asked for the implementation of bat and bird boxes for sparrows, starlings and swifts, as well as bee bricks, green or brown 'living' roofs to 'support diverse habitats' and 'hedgehog friendly fencing'.

The highways department has also given the green light as long as there is a construction management plan and the public right of way running through the farm is not obstructed.

Sheeran produced an ecology report that describes a low possibility of flooding and says it would be a 'positive impact' overall to the historic farm.

Meanwhile construction of the music studios and renovation work has been slow with builders having to use hand tools and take special measures due to the presence of protected Great Crested Newts.

Sheeran has also promised to create a 'species rich, flowering lawn' with 19 different species of flowers and 12 fruit trees.

An 'insider told the Daily Mail: 'Ed has huge plans for the property and is taking his time to ensure the end result is exactly what he wants.

'Each building will have a purpose, he's very particular about that, and it's all part of his masterplan to create the ultimate music hub.

'There won't be anything of its kind anywhere in the world - and it'll be right on his doorstep.'

Sheeran - who has had nine UK number one albums and 14 UK number one singles - has amassed a huge property portfolio since turning his 'one-man-band' act into a global phenomena.

Along with his home and studio he owns a £20 million Notting Hill mansion and an £8.25 million office building in Soho.

He has at least 22 properties across London's most sought-after areas including Covent Garden, Battersea, Kensington, Chiswick and Whitechapel.

Sheeran also splashed out on a villa in Italy, which comes with its own vineyard.