Boris Johnson planned £150,000 treehouse for son Wilf at Chequers

Boris Johnson planned to build a £150,000 treehouse in the grounds of Chequers but was forced to abandon the idea after the police raised security concerns.

The Times has been told that the prime minister and his wife Carrie wanted to build the treehouse at the country retreat in autumn 2020 for their son Wilf.

Two sources said that there were discussions about having Lord Brownlow, a Tory donor, fund the project and plans for the treehouse were drawn up.

The project was ditched after the prime minister’s close protection officers warned of a security risk because the treehouse would be visible from the road. This was despite the design including bulletproof glass, which increased the cost of the project significantly. The couple decided against pursuing the plans after the advice of the police.

No 10 aides raised concerns about the cost of the project and the fact that it would have been more expensive than buying a house in many parts of the country. “He was told it would look terrible,” a government source said.

There were also concerns about the prime minister accepting such a significant donation and whether it would represent a conflict of interest.

It was unclear whether the Chequers Trust, the body which runs the house, would have accepted the plans as many trees in the grounds are protected.

Brownlow did not respond to requests for comment. A government spokesman said: “We do not comment on private or family matters which do not involve any ministerial declarations or taxpayer funds.”

Brownlow was previously embroiled in the scandal over the refurbishment of Johnson’s Downing Street flat.

Shortly after entering Downing Street in 2019 the prime minister and his wife embarked on a significant makeover of the flat above No 11.

Brownlow committed £112,000 towards the refurbishment, including £52,000 which was paid to the Conservative Party and £60,000 to Soane Britain, for refurbishments carried out by Lulu Lytle, the designer.

The electoral commission found that the party had broken the law by failing to disclose some of the donation. The party was fined and Johnson subsequently repaid the money.

Details of the treehouse are not known but it was said to have been an “extensive” project.

Luxury treehouses can include rope bridges, zip wires and adventure areas for children; some have hot tubs and even yoga studios.

At Blue Forest, a luxury treehouse designer, play houses for children start at about £90,000 and go up to “whatever you want to pay”, Caryn Mitten, the company’s marketing director, said. Some clients build them to let out as Airbnbs.

Mitten’s favourite feature is the Narnia wardrobe. “It’s an old-fashioned wardrobe which you open up, and inside is a lot of old fur coats. Then behind is a hobbit-hole door which is a secret entrance to a slide. That’s very popular as an add-on. It looks like a wardrobe but it’s actually a slide entrance.”

For clients who want to let them out, the company often installs outdoor baths and hot tubs on the deck.

“We don’t tend to go for the off-grid style,” she said. “They’re all fully fitted inside, with double-glazed windows. We always add a basket and pulley on the deck, which you can raise and lower, put in champagne. It’s all about finishing touches to make it feel special.”

While many of Blue Forest’s treehouses look like mini castles, complete with turrets, other treehouses take on less traditional shapes. Tom Chudleigh, an American architect, produces “free spirit spheres” — perfectly round cabins hung from branches.