David and Victoria Beckham are facing serious backlash from neighbours once more, with their latest plans for their £12M Cotswolds estate sparking fury. Could this be the breaking point for the couple?
David, 50, and Victoria Beckham, 51, have had a rocky relationship with their Cotswolds neighbours since they bought their country estate in 2016 for £6.5 million. Since then, the couple has poured a fortune into transforming the rundown property into a sprawling, luxury countryside home now valued at around £12 million. However, their latest proposal has locals up in arms.
Details of their new landscaping plan have surfaced, which include the planting of 79 trees and the creation of a wildflower meadow. This follows a previous council approval for the couple to upgrade an agricultural track that will eventually serve as the main driveway to their estate. The trees, which will line one side of the property, are part of an effort to enhance privacy, particularly in light of past break-in attempts at their homes in both London and the Cotswolds.
The Beckham’s grand vision for their home is set to feature a woodland-style boundary, with a variety of trees such as European beech, English oak, Scots pine, and English yew. They’ve even applied for permission to add a new driveway that will be ‘security-controlled’, with gates that open inwards. 
Yet, this has not gone down well with some of the locals. James Worthington, a neighbour, has submitted a formal objection, submitting 45 pages of supporting material. He claims that the work on the property is already well underway, with roads, gates, and even post-and-rail fencing already in place, despite the fact that the council has yet to approve the plans. Worthington argues that if the council approves the scheme, the Beckhams’ country home will become a “fortress” that completely disrupts the rural landscape.
The Beckhams, who reportedly retreat to their converted barn in the Cotswolds from their £25 million West London mansion, argue that the new driveway is necessary due to the existing access road being “unsafe” and “inadequate” for the level of traffic it sees. Yet, well-heeled locals aren’t so sure. Joan Lane, who lives in the area, has spoken out against the plans, saying the house already has sufficient access. She’s also concerned about the impact of larger vehicles on local ramblers.
In the planning documents, the Beckhams have described their proposal as a “modest, sensitively designed conversion,” aiming to upgrade the existing road and gates to improve safety without disturbing the surrounding environment. They stress that the project will retain the “rural, heritage and landscape character of the area.”
While the Beckhams have previously been accused of “drip-feeding” their plans for their Cotswolds home, this latest application is just one of several proposals they’ve made since purchasing the property. From additional outbuildings, tennis courts, and a treehouse to the installation of a landscaped pond, the couple’s development of the property has caused significant debate.
In 2020, the couple’s man-made lake and sandbank were the subject of controversy, and an investigation into a potential planning breach regarding the lake’s construction is still ongoing. Locals were concerned that the lake, along with the accompanying beach, broke planning agreements. The planning application for the lake was initially blocked due to concerns over its impact on protected wildlife, such as great crested newts.
The Beckhams have also faced scrutiny over other developments on their estate, including their request to turn a barn into office space and their plans to create an underground tunnel and wine cellar. Their constant building and upgrading has many wondering when it will all stop.
With a decision on the latest plans expected soon, the Beckham family’s relationship with their Cotswolds neighbours remains tense. Will the Beckhams win approval, or will the locals’ objections be enough to halt the project?
Source: Daily Mail
