David and Victoria Beckham 'win planning permission battle at their £12million Cotswolds mansion' after neighbour accused them of 'turning countryside into suburbia'

Success: David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly been given the go-ahead to turn a garden store into three home offices at their £12million Cotswolds estate
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David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly been given the go-ahead to turn a garden store into three home offices at their £12million Cotswolds estate.

The footballer, 48, and fashion designer, 49, are planning to convert the space into three separate work rooms to juggle their career commitments. 

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The couple want to add an external door and a staircase along with two conservation rooflights to the offices.

According to The Sun, their planning permission has been granted after the council saw no reason why they couldn’t build at their estate.

The pair needed to get planning permission as the estate, which featues a barn, stables and a cottage, is Grade II listed. 

Success: David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly been given the go-ahead to turn a garden store into three home offices at their £12million Cotswolds estate

Plans: The footballer, 48, and fashion designer, 49, are planning to convert the space into three separate work rooms to juggle their career commitments

Plans: The footballer, 48, and fashion designer, 49, are planning to convert the space into three separate work rooms to juggle their career commitments

A representative for David and Victoria Beckham declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. 

The Beckhams have already been granted planning permission to build a new glasshouse and raised kitchen. 

David has reportedly also asked for permission to construct a new 250m access road into their sprawling holiday home while the glasshouse is built.

A neighbour did object to this and filed an official complaint in which they mocked the Beckhams and accused the pair of trying to turn the countryside into suburbia.

In comments submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council, they reportedly said: ‘I am always amazed at those who come to live in the countryside and then want to bring in suburbia, they are not content to live in a natural country environment, they want “to build a lake”, not content with a small lake they then want to enlarge it to some 4 acres with an island so they can have picnics on the island.’ 

The complaint continued: ‘The applicants defended their plans, saying they would recreate a classic English meadow scene, well if that was the case I would change my landscape architect because [famous garden designer] Capability Brown would never have designed a garden, with such features as huge football pitched, a spectator stand, an outdoor pool, and a sauna. Classic English? I don’t think so.

‘I am surprised they have not applied for a funfair ride to be installed on the remainder of the 2 acres left as garden now that they have enlarged the curtilage of the residential area.’

David is said to have asked for permission to build a new access road between his home and a nearby farm track away from the original road into the property.

Home: The Beckhams bought the home in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, for £6.1million in December 2016 when it was just three Grade II listed barns linked in an E-shaped pattern

Home: The Beckhams bought the home in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, for £6.1million in December 2016 when it was just three Grade II listed barns linked in an E-shaped pattern 

He reportedly wants to divert building traffic down the new 250m road while the glasshouse is constructed. 

This is the second neighbour to oppose the plans, with a previous complaint calling the Beckhams plans ‘pointless’ and a ‘waste of resources’.

The complaint is said to have read: ‘Hi, I object to this because it is a needless use of materials. 

‘There is already an access road to the property so what is the point of laying another road just to build a fancy greenhouse? That seems pointless and a waste of resources.’

It is not the first time the pair have had a planning row, as they previously won a battle over building a large lake with its own island at their Cotswolds mansion.

The couple received permission to create a 2,976 square metre kidney-shaped water feature in August 2020, despite objections from furious residents, and they again angered locals when they applied to increase the size by 40 per cent in December.

Amid the row, the West Oxfordshire District Council’s assistant biodiversity officer then approved the plans, so long as the family didn’t use motorised boats, The Sun reported at the time.

They said: ‘I understand that the justification for the amended design is to provide an aesthetic improvement as well as to further enhance the site for biodiversity. I consider this satisfactory.’

However, they added some restrictions should be applied, continuing: ‘I therefore recommend that a specific condition is applied that refers to the type of boats to be used on the water, such as restricting the use of speedboats.’ 

In October 2021, they were then granted planning permission to build a new office at their country home – on the condition they look after the existing wildlife.

They submitted an application to West Oxfordshire District Council to build an outhouse at their Grade-II listed property and later had it approved, so long as they shared it with the birds and bats that already live there.

The Beckhams bought the home in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, for £6.1million in December 2016 when it was just three Grade II listed barns linked in an E-shaped pattern.

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At the time, it resembled a building site and David spent months renovating along with builders, and they have spent millions on the renovations over the past six years.

The couple have gradually added more facilities, including a football pitch, a spectator stand, an outdoor pool, and a sauna.

It also boasts an enormous garage for the family’s fleet of flashy cars and a motorbikes. Most recently they added a £50,000 safari-style tent to the grounds – which are now estimated to be worth around £12million.

The lodge is 45ft long and 35ft wide and is said to be made by the Cashmere Caveman Company, owned by Mr Beckham’s close friend, the film director Guy Ritchie.

David and Victoria spend a lot of time at their holiday and weekend home, and recently gave a glimpse inside the property’s sprawling kitchen.

Glimpse: Last month, David offered fans a glimpse inside their family kitchen on Instagram as he and daughter Harper, 12, shared a cooking video

Glimpse: Last month, David offered fans a glimpse inside their family kitchen on Instagram as he and daughter Harper, 12, shared a cooking video 

Lavish: The footballing legend whipped up burritos in the £12million converted barn that boasted stone floors and wooden beams

Lavish: The footballing legend whipped up burritos in the £12million converted barn that boasted stone floors and wooden beams 

David offered fans a glimpse inside their family kitchen on Instagram as he and daughter Harper, 12, shared a cooking video.

The footballing legend whipped up burritos in the £12million converted barn that boasted stone floors and wooden beams.

The couple have renovated the kitchen from head to toe and opted for chic dark grey cupboards complete with gold handles and concealed fridge.

David – who also shares sons Brooklyn, 24, Rome, 20, and Cruz, 18, with wife Victoria – even shared a quick look inside the refrigerator during his most recent tutorial, as it overflowed with fresh meat, fruit and condiments.

Completing the country aesthetic, there is a black double-fronted AGA as well as traditional pizza oven with a huge pile of firewood ready for the family to rustle up the Italian dish.

They cook in swanky copper pans that hang from the large rack and clean up with designer Daylesford White Stripe Tea Towels from it’s namesake and nearby village. 

Huge wooden boards were hung up on the exposed brickwork alongside Oak shelves piled high with glassware.

The kitchen boasts bags of space with a breakfast bar as well as a large leather sofa perfect for the family can gather around the fireplace. 

Large glass doors open out onto the fantastic lawn where David keeps his bees and produces his own honey. 

After the Beckhams’ improvements, the property boasts a sauna, plunge pool, football pitch, gym, swimming pool and £50,000 safari tent in the grounds for entertaining.

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