It certainly has the X factor, but after 21 months Simon Cowell's five-bedroom, six-bathroom Hollywood mansion remains apparently uninhabited.

Work began on the enormous Beverly Hills pad in 2006 after the American Idol judge bought the site for $8million in 2005. He promptly demolished the existing house and set to work on building his dream home.

But nearly two years on and cones still stand outside the luxury pad, while workmen can be seen putting finishing touches to the gardens.

And with Simon's notoriety for being brutally honest it appears likely he has been far from easy to please.

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Fit for a star: Simon Cowell is building a new mansion in Beverly Hills, but why has it taken so long?

But the final product should be worth waiting for. The new building is 8,000 square-feet and will house a gym, a hi-tech media room and of course,a swimming pool.

In the last couple of months the palm tree fringed gardens have been landscaped in typical LA style - with box hedging planted and sun drenched patios installed.

Celebrity neighbors will include Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Sharon Stone and his fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul. Simon's new home is also a conveniently short drive from Fox Studios and the Californian branch of The Ivy, his favourite restaurant

Hopefully the pad will please Simon and stunning ex-model girlfriend Terri Seymour, who currently live in another of the multi-millionaire's homes nearby.

Simon Cowell and partner Terri Seymour take his Ferrari for a spin in Beverly Hills