Aaron Taylor-Johnson has won his battle with the local council after excavating a lake at his 16th century farmhouse, and has even won praise for it 'attracting birds'.

The Brit actor and his film director wife Sam Taylor-Johnson sparked the ire of neighbours for carrying out the unauthorised works at their Somerset country bolthole. 

They had feared it would be used for open water swimming, but now have been left 'overjoyed' at seeing geese flock to the water and hearing the calling song of a Tawny Owl. 

Taylor-Johnson, 34, and his 58-year-old wife, who directed Fifty Shades of Grey, have since been given retrospective permission.

An inspection carried out last week by council officers has given the go ahead for the pond to continue operating with 'no issues' raised.

The actor is hotly tipped to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Craig as the next 007. He is yet to accept the role of Bond, but if he does he will be the seventh to play the iconic British secret agent since the franchise started in 1962. 

Aerial pictures show the huge scale of the pond at the farmhouse, that the celebrity couple bought from Grand Designs host Kevin McCleod.

Neighbour Amy Fukuyama wrote: 'I live to the west of the fields belonging to Great House Farm and am overjoyed at the prospect of the increase to biodiversity in our area.

'I can see the ponds from my house and very much welcome the change to the view and monoculture.

'Since the ponds have been constructed there has been a noticeable increase in bird activity.

'We now regularly see, and hear, flocks of geese flying over and can hear a Tawny Owl on occasions which I don't recall hearing before.

'I recently attended a talk by another local rewilding enthusiast in which he spoke of the flocks of 100 plus Goldfinches which now visit his re-wilded farm and I fully support any application which would encourage such activity in our area.'

Another neighbour Darren Tune added: 'Previously the field were monoculture providing very little habitat and this is better use of the field as it will increase the biodiversity of the area.

'My home looks over the field and my land buts on to the field, I can see the pond and i consider the construction noise was not intrusive.'

Ty Schlechter wrote: 'It will be wonderful to see and hear wildlife in the village especially around the Great House and I wish to support their endeavour which can only help improve the local environment especially against localised flooding.'

In approving the plans, which were under the banner of a 'flood alleviation scheme, planning official Jane Thomas wrote: 'The proposal is for the creation of a number of new wetland features to attenuate the flow of these spring-fed water courses across the proposal site and the wider estate.

'The proposal will reduce the risk of flooding from these water courses that has threatened the fabric of the Grade II-listed farmhouse on a regular basis and also has resulted in regular flooding of the highway along Leigh Street.

'Additionally, the proposals will deliver a significant net gain in biodiversity across the proposal site and the wider area.'

Some locals had initially feared the one acre lake was going to be used for open water swimming, but the restrospective application outlined the two areas of water were wildlife ponds.

The couple insisted the measures were needed to prevent flooding of the 16th century five bed Grade II listed home.

Last month, a Sustainable Drainage Systems inspection was carried out. It passed all necessary checks with no objections raised.

The report stated: 'The flood prevention scheme has operated well during periods of high rain and high spring discharges.

'The arched bridge at the outlet is clear, unencumbered and well maintained as is the rest of the site.'

Evidence to support the application stated the home has flooded every year since 2011.

It says: 'The owners are undertaking a project to create new wetland features to alleviate severe flooding to the house and to enhance biodiversity.'

Planning permission was also granted earlier this month for new pedestrian and vehicle gates at the site.

Last Friday the green light was also given to install a new surfaced bellmouth, a cattlegrid and a timber field gate along with

stock proof fencing, native hedge planting, and associated landscaping.

Approving the scheme, planners wrote: 'The works proposed will improve the access to the agricultural land of the estate facilitating management of that land.

'Part of the wider site has been the subject of a comprehensive flood alleviation scheme in recent years and the access will also be used to facilitate maintenance of these works.'