Football legend David Beckham and his wife, fashion designer Victoria, have emerged victorious in a planning dispute with neighbours over their £12 million Cotswolds retreat. The couple have reportedly been granted permission to create a new, private access road to their Maplewood Barn home, according to a report by The Sun.
End of the Shared Lane Saga
The core of the conflict centred on the current single-lane cul-de-sac that serves as the only vehicular route to the Beckhams' property. This same narrow track is also the sole access road for the wildly popular Soho Farmhouse, a members-only club where subscriptions cost £250 per month. The 'rural escape' offers pools, a health club, and country pursuits like clay pigeon shooting, attracting minor celebrities and media professionals in droves, particularly during the summer.
This has meant that the flashy vehicles of Soho Farmhouse visitors have had to travel down the very same lane that leads to the Beckham family's private sanctuary. The new plan, which faced 'strong objections' from locals, involves upgrading an existing agricultural track into a tarmac-laid private route, effectively separating the Beckhams' traffic from the club's crowd.
Neighbourhood Objections Overruled
The application is the latest in a series of contentious planning submissions by the couple for their Oxfordshire estate. Objections from at least one neighbour argued the development should be halted, claiming it would negatively impact ramblers in the area who deserve to be 'undisturbed by giant SUV's lumbering up and down' the peaceful track.
Despite these concerns, authorities are believed to have given the green light. The decision will allow the Beckhams to bypass the congestion and lack of privacy associated with the shared thoroughfare, finally providing exclusive access to their multi-million pound mansion near the village of Great Tew.
The resolution marks the end of a long-running 'war' for the famous couple, granting them the seclusion they sought away from the bustling traffic heading to the nearby trendy retreat.
