Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards 'splash out £3million on new love nest'

They've had a dramatic 2015, but it looks like Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards are moving forward in their relationship.

The former One Direction star and his Little Mix singer fiancée have reportedly splashed out £3million on a luxury love nest.

The six bedroom home just outside London is the couple's way of proving 'how serious they are' about each other, according to insiders, after Perrie was accused of being the reason Zayn quit his chart-topping band this year.

Zayn, 22, and Perrie, 21, have reportedly bought a six-bedroom, five-bathroom house that was previously lived in by a well-known Premier League football star.

A source has told The Sun that the house signals a big milestone in the couple's relationship, nearly two years on from their engagement:

'This is a big statement by Perrie and Zayn. They've had to shoot down rumours of a split after his exit from the band and this is both of them showing everyone just how serious they are.'

'They're engaged and need somewhere they can both call home - and this house is it.'

The luxurious property is split into two wings and also features a three-bedroom guest cottage, with the insider describing the property as 'a safe haven' the couple can retreat to when Perrie isn't away on tour with Little Mix.

Following Zayn's departure from One Direction in March, the source adds that as the former boybander 'has a bit more time on his hands than he used to...this is a good place to be for him to hang out with mates or just spend some time alone. Plus it is just half an hour or so from London so Zayn won't be going into exile just yet.'

In March Zayn and Perrie were spotted checking out a £2million mock-Tudor mansion in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, with the two currently living together in North London.

The new house comes amid a turbulent time for the couple, after fans targeted Perrie following her fiance's decision to quit One Direction. Some loyal Directioners even compared the blonde to Yoko Ono, the widow of the late John Lennon, who was infamously blamed for breaking up the Beatles.

Three months on from Zayn's departure, some fans are still raging with the less-than-pleasant hashtag, #CANCELYOURENGAGEMENTZAYN, trending on Twitter this week.

In an interview with OK! magazine last month, Perrie defended her fiance insisting: 'Zayn is his own person and makes his own decisions. Whatever he wanted to do during that time, I was going to support him 100 per cent.'

Asked if she's happier now, she said: 'Yes. I'm happy if he's happy.'