Locals accuse the couple of “spoiling the countryside” as planning dispute reignites
David and Victoria Beckham are once again at the centre of a planning row with neighbours over their latest proposal — a new private access road to their £12 million Cotswolds estate, Maplewood Barn.
The celebrity couple submitted a planning application to the West Oxfordshire District Council seeking permission to convert an existing agricultural track into a tarmac-laid driveway leading directly to their main gates on Ledwell Lane.
If approved, the road would provide the Beckhams a private entry route — bypassing the single-lane cul-de-sac they currently share with visitors heading to the exclusive Soho Farmhouse, a high-profile members-only club popular among A-listers and influencers.
Reason Behind the Proposal
According to the application, the new driveway would improve “operational safety and privacy” while easing congestion on the shared lane — a hotspot for weekend traffic as Soho Farmhouse attracts hundreds of guests.
The couple’s representatives described the plan as “a modest and sensitively designed conversion” that would preserve the “agricultural, low-key character” of the rural area.
They argued that the road would “minimise conflict between agricultural, residential, and leisure users” while keeping with the aesthetics of the countryside setting.
Locals Push Back: “Leave the Lane Undisturbed”
But not everyone in Great Tew is impressed. Several neighbours have lodged formal objections, claiming the new tarmac road would destroy the area’s tranquility.
One local resident, Joan Lane, wrote to the council:
“The house already has a perfectly serviceable access road. Why is another stretch of tarmac through the woods deemed a good idea? Ramblers use the lane and they should be left undisturbed by giant SUVs lumbering up and down.”
Critics argue that the new access could set a precedent for similar developments in what has long been considered a protected countryside zone.
A History of Planning Drama
This is far from the first time the Beckhams have clashed with planning officials or neighbours since purchasing their Cotswolds retreat in 2016.
Local authorities have previously investigated alleged planning breaches related to some of these modifications. Despite the controversy, the Beckhams have maintained that every addition is part of their effort to create a “family sanctuary” away from the London spotlight.
What’s Next
The West Oxfordshire District Council is currently reviewing the application and public feedback before making its decision.
If approved, the project will mark the Beckhams’ latest addition to their countryside compound — though it may further strain relations with their neighbours.
For now, the couple remains focused on ensuring privacy and security for their growing family — even if it means paving a few more roads to get there.
