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Beckhams Face Neighbour Backlash Over Cotswolds Plans

David and Victoria Beckham are in hot water with their neighbours again over new proposals for their home in the Cotswolds.The former footballer, 50, and the fa...

Beckhams Face Neighbour Backlash Over Cotswolds Plans
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Bintano News

March 27, 2026

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David and are in hot water with their neighbours again over new proposals for their home in the Cotswolds.

The former footballer, 50, and the fashion designer, 51, bought the property back in 2016 for around £6.5M. 

Since then, they've redeveloped what was once a rundown site into an expansive countryside residence now thought to be worth about £12 million.

However, their latest plans have caused frustration with the locals, after details emerged of a large scale tree-planting project.

The couple have applied to the local council for permission to plant 79 trees and create a wildflower meadow on their land. 

The plans follow earlier approval to upgrade an agricultural track, which is set to become a permanent driveway providing the main access to the property.

David and Victoria Beckham are in hot water with their neighbours over new proposals for their home in the Cotswolds

The pair retreat to the converted barn (pictured) in the Cotswolds at weekends from their £25 million West London mansion

Their latest landscaping proposal includes planting trees along one side of the estate, forming a woodland-style boundary intended to boost privacy. 

The trees includes 12 European beech, 19 English oak, 15 small-leaved lime, eight field maple, seven Scots pine, five common hazel, five sycamore maple, four holly and four English yew.

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The planting is expected to help shield the property from view, particularly after previous attempted break-ins at both their London and Cotswolds homes, which have since led to 24-hour security.

The new driveway would lead to top-level 'security-controlled access to the property with inward-opening gates,' as reported by the Mirror.

Yet, some residents are unhappy with the plans.

Neighbour James Worthington submitted a formal objection along with 45 pages of supporting material.

He told the publication: 'This current application is just a joke. 

'Why submit an application when you have already laid the road, installed gates, laid an electricity supply to the gate, planted trees, installed post and rail fencing along both sides of this track?'

He added that if the council approved the scheme, then the rural house would become a fortress.

The Daily Mail has contacted David and Victoria's representative for comment. 

Currently the Beckham's mansion near Great Tew has a single lane cul-de-sac access, which also serves as the only way for visitors to drive to Soho Farmhouse; the nearby retreat is billed as a 'rural escape'.

The swanky establishment charges members £250 a month to enjoy the pools, health club and range of country pursuits on offer - including clay pigeon shooting.

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Currently the Beckham's mansion near Great Tew has a single lane cul-de-sac access, which also serves as the only way for visitors to drive to Soho Farmhouse

During the summer months in particular celebs come in their droves to relax and network - and their flashy cars are all filtered down the same - and currently only - road that serves the Beckhams' own private retreat. 

In documents to support their application for a new access road, the couple said their existing access to Tracey Lane is problematic as it is a single use cul-de-sac with busy and 'unsafe' levels of traffic. 

But the plans were hit with backlash from well-healed locals, Joan Lane, who lives in Great Tew, said: 'I must strongly object to this proposal.

'The house already has gone perfectly serviceable access road so why is another stretch of tarmac laid through the woods deemed a good idea.

'Ramblers use the lane and they should be left undisturbed by giant SUVs lumbering up and down. Please do not allow this application.'

In planning documents, a representative of the Beckhams described it as a 'modest, sensitively designed conversion'.

They argued it would 'modestly upgrade the existing crossover and gates at Ledwell Lane for safe residential use'.

The statement added: 'The works respond to operational, safety, and amenity needs, while being carefully designed to conserve the rural, heritage and landscape character of the area.'

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Soho Farmhouse, (pictured), is much loved by influencers who want to live a bit of a celebrity lifestyle on the weekend and no doubt would love to catch a glimpse of the Beckhams 

In planning documents, a representative of the Beckhams described it as a 'modest, sensitively designed conversion' (proposed improvements are pictured)

Their man-made lake and sand bank at the property has courted its fair share of controversy among locals after planning papers were initially submitted ahead of its construction in 2020. 

It's understood that council officers have launched an investigation into the 1,000 square foot sand bank after receiving a complaint that it broke a planning agreement.

A source said: 'Neighbours think it is totally out of character for the surrounding area and they are very twitchy around adhering to the rules.'

Bordering their enormous lake, the beach was visible between a wooden jetty and a safari tent as the couple sat tearfully discussing Victoria's ambitions and their future together. 

Detailed notes and diagrams at the time said the surrounding area should be landscaped like an 'organic parkland', with wildflower meadows and native trees, and scrub and other plants to provide a habitat for nesting birds, small animals and insects.

The council is now investigating concerns that the beach is not consistent with what was agreed. 

West Oxfordshire District Council confirmed: 'A report of a planning breach has been received and will now be investigated.'

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The safari tent near the beach was made by a firm owned by the couple's director friend, Guy Ritchie, who was once ordered to remove similar tents himself from a lake at Ashcombe House in Wiltshire, after they were spotted in a trailer for his Netflix series The Gentlemen.

Initial plans to install their lake - a stretch of four-metre-deep water spanning 3000 square metres and surrounded by an array of wildflowers and trees - were initially blocked due to the potential impact on local protected wildlife, such as great crested newts.

At the time, the lake was the latest in a long-line of accoutrements to be built at the Cotswolds estate after they were previously awarded permission to install a secret underground tunnel, wine cellar and 'super garage'. 

The Heritage Impact Statement included in the submission stated that the proposed lake would be 'approached and encircled by a mown grass path which will wend its way through newly created gently sloping grass meadowland'.

The planning application also set out that surrounding trees would include the likes of 'Hazel, Oak, Honeysuckle, Bramble' and more.

In 2023, the couple won a controversial bid to turn a barn in the garden of their vast property into offices; they had asked for permission to create three separate office spaces in the building, featuring a bathroom, skylights and an external wooden staircase.

David and Victoria's Cotswolds home featured heavily in the former England captain's four-part Netflix documentary where he said: 'I wanted a place where we could escape. 

As soon as I get into the countryside, I normally get into my country get-up which I'm not in now. I've got a stick, I walk around, sit out here with a cup of coffee. My favourite view of the house. I can also see Victoria if she's naked in the top window.'

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