ED Sheeran has been dealt another blow in his ongoing struggle to build a rehearsal space near his mega estate “Sheeranville”.
The Shape of You singer faces painfully slow construction on his new rehearsal studio due to eco-rules.
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Ed’s new rehearsal space is being held back by protected newts living nearbyCredit: Deadline via Getty ImagesThe rehearsal space is set to be near his 16-acre ‘Sheeranville’ estate (pictured)Credit: SplashNews.com
Builders having to begin construction by hand because of the prescence of endangered newts.
And they will be given special “toolbox talks” on what to do if they come across the tiny 15cm critters.
Planning bosses say the tiny 15cm critters could be disturbed by his plans to knock down a historic but dilapidated barn and turn it into a personal rehearsal space.
Council chiefs said the measures were normal for any countryside development – and not “unreasonable”.
Ed’s builders will have to use hand tools instead of machinery, remove all debris by hand.
The popstar’s problems with amphibians date back as far as 2018 0 when protected great crested newts were found near his Suffolk estate.
Planning permission for the project was granted, but with a string of conditions to protect the species.
Sheeran bought the £1million farm in 20245 – which included a 19th century dilapidated piggery.
Mid-Suffolk Council have forced the pop-star to put a range of measures in place to protect the newtsCredit: sandra standbridgeEach builder will be given a “tool box talk” explaining how to protect the newtsCredit: Laszlo Bokor
The brick and wood debris will also be entirely removed by hand to stop the newts from accessing it.
The ‘Great Crested Newt Method Statement’ filed with Mid-Suffolk District Council states: “The removal of any debris e.g. rubble, wood, will be undertaken by hand as far as possible, and with care, checking beneath all removed items for newts.
“Careful use of machinery will be necessary to lift large debris and to remove the existing concrete building base, with the area beneath checked for the presence of GCN as each section is lifted.”
The method statement also gives a time limit restricting project work to March, April and May when most newts will be in ponds away from construction.
Other eco measures Ed’s having to put in place include creating a “species rich, flowering lawn” with 19 different species of flowers.
Plus he’s got to plant 12 fruit trees, two bat boxes and a triple-house sparrow tower.
A spokesperson for Mid-Suffolk District Council told The Sun: “This is certainly NOT a case of any unreasonable ‘eco-friendly measures’ being demanded by our council – simply normal requirements that would be expected of any countryside developers.”
They explained there had been no conflict between Ed Sheeran and the council at any stage and that he had not complained about the restrictions.
Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s real estate and farming sectors are seeing a surge in diaspora-driven investment, with two young content creators quietly emerging as unexpected influencers shaping the trend.
Kundai Chitima, 31, and Kelvin Birioti, 20, each running their own social media channel, have built followings that seem to influence a growing number of Zimbabweans abroad considering return or investment.
On YouTube and Instagram, they share short videos and posts highlighting opportunities in Zimbabwe. Their popular content ranges from property tours and agricultural tips to market trend analysis.
For some in the diaspora, decisions about returning or investing increasingly appear to be shaped less by official narratives and more by social media content offering on-the-ground perspectives of life in Zimbabwe.
One of those influenced is Catherine Mutisi, who spent 17 years living in the United Kingdom working as an accountant. During that time, she had already begun investing in Zimbabwe, building two houses, buying a small plot and starting a business.
She said her thinking shifted after coming across Birioti’s content during construction.
“Gradually, my mind and plans shifted from just visiting Zimbabwe towards wanting to permanently relocate,” she said.
Mutisi said earlier narratives about Zimbabwe had made her cautious, but online content presented a different perspective.
“Previously, I was just building my houses for my family to get some money. But after watching the videos, my eyes opened,” she told Al Jazeera.
Her experience is not isolated. Both Chitima and Birioti say they hear similar accounts from the Zimbabwean diaspora reassessing their long-term plans.
UK-based Zimbabwean Nyashadzashe Nguwo, an Africa market entry and global expansion adviser, said many people like Mutisi are relocating to Zimbabwe due to what he described as a combination of emotional and lifestyle-driven factors.
“There’s a strong desire among many in the diaspora to reconnect with their roots and contribute meaningfully to national development. For some, the lower cost of living and the opportunity to build something impactful at home outweigh concerns about economic instability,” Nguwo told Al Jazeera.
Two influencers
After growing up in Chinhoyi, a town in northern Zimbabwe about 120km (75 miles) northwest of the capital, Harare, Birioti sought a new start and enrolled at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) in Bindura. He dropped out, however, due to financial challenges and decided to move to Harare.
There, he met Chitima and began learning content creation. From the outset, he said he avoided entertainment-style content, instead focusing on what he saw as an information gap.
“I saw a gap: the diaspora community was being scammed.”
He built his platform about real estate, rural development and farming projects, often working with diaspora Zimbabweans who granted access to their properties for documentation.
Kundai Chitima worked as a teacher in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe in 2015 [Al Jazeera]
On the other hand, Chitima worked as a teacher in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe in 2015.
He said workplace inequality influenced his choice: “We were earning lower than my South African colleagues. I thought of my dignity and made a decision to return home.”
Chitima returned to Zimbabwe with limited resources and a pregnant wife, entering a very different economic environment from the one he had left.
Before his time in South Africa, he had worked as a civil servant. After returning, he gradually moved into content creation, beginning in 2015 and later training younger creators who went on to build large audiences.
Today, he reflects on his platform as both educational and protective for diaspora audiences.
“I receive calls from people crying … they have been scammed.”
He says his content aims to replace uncertainty with grounded information about the realities and opportunities in Zimbabwe.
Economic pressure and unemployment
While no official figures are publicly available on the exact number of Zimbabweans leaving the country or their reasons for doing so, reports from the International Organization for Migration and independent migration studies indicate consistent migration.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) reported a 21.8 percent unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2024, based on strict International Labour Organization definitions.
Between 76 percent and 80 percent of workers are in the informal sector, relying on subsistence or unregulated employment. Youth unemployment is particularly acute: a 2025 World Bank report estimates it at 76.8 percent.
For many young people, stable employment is increasingly difficult to secure.
Susan Sibanda, 26, describes moving between short-term and informal work.
“I have been switching from one casual job to the next,” Sibanda said.
Her experience reflects a wider labour market where formal employment continues to shrink. In recent years, several big retailers, including Choppies, Truworths, OK Zimbabwe, and N Richards, have downsized or closed operations.
Emigration pressures remain strong
Against that backdrop, migration still features heavily in the decisions of young Zimbabweans.
Sibanda said she now considers that “leaving Zimbabwe is in my best interest”.
Economist Tashinga Kajiva said the story of emigration from Zimbabwe has largely remained high, driven by a combination of push and pull factors that encourage people to seek what they see as greener pastures.
“Zimbabwe’s economy is marked by complex and, some would say, difficult dynamics. For ordinary citizens, disposable income remains low while the cost of living continues to rise. The marginal propensity to save among working-class citizens is also low, as many are living hand to mouth,” he told Al Jazeera.
Zimbabwe’s diaspora is concentrated in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, according to government figures.
Keeping ties alive from abroad
The economic link between Zimbabwe and its diaspora remains strong.
According to real estate agents, diaspora buyers now account for a significant share
They state that up to 50 percent of high-end residential properties sold were purchased by Zimbabweans living abroad in recent years. In some regions, land prices have risen by 20–30 percent year-on-year, a surge partly attributed to diaspora buyers.
Diaspora investment is also noticeable in agriculture. Reports from the Zimbabwe Farmers Union indicate that about 10-15 percent of new farm leases over the past two to three years involve diaspora investors, with activity concentrated in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland regions.
Remittances reached $1.7bn in 2023 and continue to rise. In 2025, Zimbabweans abroad sent $2.45bn home, with the UK and South Africa the largest sources, according to government data. A significant portion of these funds is reportedly invested in real estate, agriculture, and small businesses.
This reflects both practical necessity and emotional attachment to home, as well as a preference for investing in familiar environments, according to economists.
Still, return seems to generate mixed reactions.
Some diaspora Zimbabweans appear cautious, citing political developments and recent protests abroad over governance concerns.
For them, financial ties to Zimbabwe are still strong, but physical return remains uncertain.
With social media reshaping perceptions of life in Zimbabwe, many in the diaspora remain caught between investment opportunities and the country’s economic realities.
As content creators like Chitima and Birioti reshape how some see opportunity in Zimbabwe, domestic economic pressures appear to be pushing others away, leaving the country’s relationship with its diaspora open-ended and still evolving.
“For many Zimbabweans living abroad, investing back home is not just about profit – it’s about staying connected to their roots and shaping the future of their communities,” said Chitima.
US power couple Beyonce and Jay Z have abandoned their plans to purchase a home in the UKCredit: APThe couple are eyeing a 16th century estate with 10 bedrooms in France near Bordeaux insteadCredit:
Crazy In Love singer Beyoncé, 44, and Jay-Z, 56, are already huge fans of the famous wine region – with the 99 Problems rapper celebrating his birthday there in 2023.
Sources say the US pair are looking at a 16th century estate boasting 10 bedrooms and eight bathrooms, nestled in a commune.
Locals have told how the area is abuzz with talk of the A-listers joining their community – which is described as the French equivalent to the Cotswolds.
Businesses have reportedly been sworn to secrecy about the couple’s potential arrival.
One local said: “Everyone is talking about Beyonce and Jay-Z moving to the area.
“It’s all been shrouded in secrecy, with local businesses and tradespeople forced to sign non-disclosure agreements, but theirs are the names on everyone’s lips.”
Residents have reported a recent surge in private planes landing at the closest airport.
One source also told how a job description has gone on a local noticeboard for an experienced property manager working with VIP clients at an historic estate.
One of the requirements for the role is “absolute discretion”.
![Kundai Chitima worked as a teacher in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe in 2015 [Al Jazeera]](https://i0.wp.com/occasionaldigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Kundai-Chitima-showcasing-a-modern-house-and-projects-in-rural-Zimbabwe-1778849291.jpeg?w=640&ssl=1)
