David and Victoria Beckham anger locals as ‘their plans to build a new road to their £12m Cotswolds mansion will cut off a public footpath’
They’re already reportedly embroiled in another planning row over their plans to build a new road at their £12million Cotswolds home.
And now, locals have again expressed their anger over David and Victoria Beckham’s grand plans as the proposed road will allegedly cut across a public footpath.
The former footballer, 48, and his fashion designer wife, 49, have already been granted planning permission to build a new glasshouse and raised kitchen, with the pair now said to have asked for permission to construct a new 250m access road into their sprawling holiday home while the glasshouse is built.
However, nearby residents have now shared further reasons for their objections, with one remarking that the council should ‘investigate the application’ further due to the apparent footpath, report The Sun.
The publication states that one local moaned: ‘The council should have investigated this application more, if they had they would have discovered it is a public right of way and listed as a ‘footpath’ with Oxfordshire County Council.
Row: Locals have again expressed their anger over David and Victoria Beckham’s grand plans to build a new road at their £12million Cotswolds home
Opposition: Residents nearby have suggested that the new proposed road will allegedly cut across a public footpath (the couple pictured this week)
‘It is also listed on the Ramblers website as a public footpath with a public right of way. I trust the local authority will now look into this matter.’
It is also said that another resident suggested that the Beckhams want the road so that it is a longer drive to the property, rather than the shorter one currently on the public road.
They said: ‘I believe as do many in the Great Tew and surrounding area suggest the applicants want a longer drive into their property, rather than the short drive from the lane they currently use to have access to their property. This may be because the public have access all the way down this lane because it is a public road.’
It’s reported that plans show that a footpath cuts across the track that the famous couple wish to use as a road.
MailOnline have contacted representatives of David and Victoria for comment.
It comes days after the sports star and the former Spice Girl initially faced opposition for their road plans.
A neighbour has objected to the plans and filed an official complaint in which they mocked the Beckhams and accused the pair of trying to turn the countryside into suburbia, The Sun reports.
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.
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.’
A representative for the Beckhams declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.
Project: David has reportedly asked to build a 250m road but a neighbour is said to have objected to the plans and slammed them as ‘pointless’ (the house is pictured in March 2017)
Oh dear: Residents have now shared further reasons for their objections, with one remarking that the council should ‘investigate the application’ further due to the apparent footpath (David and Victoria with kids Brooklyn, 24, Rome, 20, and Cruz, 18, and Harper, 12)
The reported new row comes just weeks after the Daily Mail revealed David and Victoria are planning to build a huge outdoor kitchen in their garden.
The couple have put in for permission for the stand alone building which will be made out of glass.
An application for permission for the latest enhancement to the lavish property was lodged with West Oxfordshire council in June. Plans show that the kitchen will be surrounded with wild plants and several tables and chairs for guests.
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.’
READ MORE: Inside the Beckhams’ property empire: A look at the couple’s £73m portfolio
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.
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.
Last month, 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, 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.
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
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
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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