David and Victoria Beckham ‘win planning permission battle at their £12million Cotswolds mansion’ after neighbour accused them of ‘turning countryside into suburbia’
David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly been given the green light to turn a gardening store into three home offices at their £12 million Cotswolds estate.
The 48-year-old footballer and 49-year-old fashion designer plan to transform the space into three separate workrooms to juggle their professional commitments.
The couple want to add an exterior door and staircase as well as two conservation dormer windows to the offices.
According to The suntheir planning permission was granted after the council saw no reason why they could not build on their estate.
The couple needed to obtain planning permission as the estate, which includes a barn, stables and a chalet, is Grade II listed.
Success story: David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly been given the green light to turn a garden store into three home offices at their £12 million Cotswolds estate.
Plans: The 48-year-old footballer and the 49-year-old fashion designer plan to transform the space into three separate workrooms to juggle their professional commitments.
A representative for David and Victoria Beckham declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
The Beckhams have already obtained planning permission to build a new greenhouse and raised kitchen.
David is also said to have requested permission to build a new 250m access road to their sprawling holiday home while the greenhouse is being built.
A neighbor objected to this and filed a formal complaint in which they mocked the Beckhams and accused the two men of trying to turn the countryside into suburbia.
In comments submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council, they reportedly said: “I am always amazed to see those who come to live in the countryside and then want to settle in the suburbs, they are not content to live in a natural countryside environment, they want to “build a lake”, are not satisfied with ‘a small lake that they then want to expand to about 4 acres with an island so they can picnic on the island.
The complaint continues: “The contestants defended their designs by saying they would recreate a classic English meadow scene. If that were the case, I would change landscape architects, because (famous garden designer) Capability Brown would never have designed a garden featuring features such as a huge football pitch, a spectator stand, an outdoor swimming pool and a sauna. Classic English? I don’t think so.
“I’m surprised they haven’t asked for a carousel to be installed on the remaining 2 acres as a garden, now that they’ve expanded the perimeter of the residential area.”
David is said to have requested permission to build a new access road between his house and a nearby agricultural track, away from the original road, leading to the property.
Family: David and Victoria spend a lot of time at their vacation home with their children: Brooklyn, 24, Rome, 20, and Cruz, 18, and Harper, 12.
House: The Beckhams bought the house in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, for £6.1 million in December 2016 when it was just three Grade II listed barns linked in a shaped pattern by E.
He reportedly wanted to divert building traffic to the new road by 250 meters during construction of the greenhouse.
He is the second neighbor to oppose the plans, following a previous complaint calling Beckham’s plans “unnecessary” and a “waste of resources.”
The complaint reportedly read as follows: “Hello, I object to this as it is an unnecessary use of materials.
“There’s already an access road to the property, so what’s the point of building another one just to build a fancy greenhouse?” This seems unnecessary and a waste of resources.
It’s not the first time the pair have clashed over planning, as they previously won a battle to build a large lake with its own island at their Cotswolds manor.
The couple received permission to create a 2,976 square meter kidney-shaped water feature in August 2020, despite the objections of furious residents, who angered residents again when they called for a 40 percent increase in size in December.
Amid the row, West Oxfordshire District Council’s deputy biodiversity officer later approved the plans, on the condition that the family would not use motorboats, The sun reported at the time.
They said: “I understand that the rationale for the amended design is to provide an aesthetic improvement as well as further enhance the site in terms of biodiversity. I consider this satisfactory.
However, they added that certain restrictions should be applied, continuing: “I therefore recommend the application of a specific condition referring to the type of boats to be used on the water, such as restricting the use of speedboats .”
In October 2021, they then obtained planning permission to build a new office in their country home, on the condition that they take care of the existing wildlife.
They submitted an application to West Oxfordshire District Council to build an outbuilding on their Grade II listed property and subsequently had it approved, on the condition that they share it with the birds and bats already living there.
The Beckhams bought the house in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, for £6.1 million in December 2016 when it was just three Grade II listed barns linked in an E-shaped pattern .
At the time it looked like a construction site and David spent months renovating with the builders, and they have spent millions on renovations over the past six years.
The couple gradually added additional facilities, including a football pitch, a spectator stand, an outdoor swimming pool and a sauna.
It also has a huge garage for the family fleet of flashy cars and a motorcycle. More recently, they added a £50,000 safari-style tent to the land, which is now estimated to be worth around £12 million.
The lodge is 45 feet long and 35 feet wide and would be built by the Cashmere Caveman Company, owned by Mr Beckham’s close friend, the director Guy Ritchie.
David and Victoria spend a lot of time at their holiday and weekend home and recently gave a sneak peek into the property’s extensive kitchen.
Sneak peek: Last month, David gave his fans a glimpse into their family kitchen on Instagram as he and his daughter Harper, 12, shared a cooking video.
Sumptuous: The football legend cooked up burritos in the £12million converted barn, which has stone floors and wooden beams.
David gave fans a glimpse into their family kitchen on Instagram as he and his daughter Harper, 12, shared a cooking video.
The football legend cooked up burritos in the £12million converted barn, which features stone floors and wooden beams.
The couple renovated the kitchen from head to toe and opted for chic dark gray cabinets with gold handles and a built-in refrigerator.
David – who also shares sons Brooklyn, 24, Rome, 20, and Cruz, 18, with wife Victoria – even shared a quick peek inside the fridge during his latest tutorial, as he overflowing with fresh meat, fruit and condiments.
To complete the country aesthetic, there is a double-fronted black AGA as well as a traditional pizza oven with a huge pile of firewood ready for the family to prepare the Italian dish.
They cook in chic copper pots hung from the large rack and clean with Daylesford White Stripe tea towels from its namesake and the neighboring village.
Huge planks of wood hung from the exposed bricks, next to oak shelves filled with glassware.
The kitchen offers plenty of space with a breakfast bar as well as a large leather sofa perfect for the family to gather around the fireplace.
Large glass doors open onto the fantastic lawn where David keeps his bees and produces his own honey.
After the Beckhams’ improvements, the property has a sauna, plunge pool, football pitch, gym, swimming pool and a £50,000 safari tent on the ground to have fun.