David Beckham at war with neighbours over plans for ‘silly’ addition to £6m rural retreat

Football legend David Beckham has sparked a new row with neighbours at his rural retreat after the star submitted plans for a new addition to his £6million Cotswolds home

David Beckham is facing a war with his neighbours of his rural retreat(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
David Beckham is at war with his neighbours over plans for a new barn at his rural retreat. An exasperated local complained: “Why do famous people move to the country… then make silly alterations?”

The England legend, who’s wife is celebrating her birthday today, is seeking planning permission for the timber-clad structure at the £6m property in the Cotswolds. Becks, who turns 50 on May 2, keeps bees and chickens at his country bolthole which has a giant lake.

He has asked planners at West Oxfordshire District Council for the right to create an “agricultural storage barn for hay/straw and agricultural equipment”.

The plans submitted to local council
Angry villager Harriet Jones has told the council in a letter of objection: “This is just the latest in a long line of applications to build new structures on this land, plus a giant lake. Why do famous people move out to the country and then clutter up their land with endless buildings and make silly alterations? It makes no sense.”

The plans reveal the building will have a steel frame covered in wood with a metal roof which will measure 10m by 5m. Planners will decide on the merits of the application in the coming weeks.

How Becks hopes the barn will look
Two years ago, David Beckham and his wife Victoria were given planning permission to transform the property near Chipping Norton, which they bought for £6m in 2016. Roof space in an outbuilding was to be turned into offices.

The pair previously got into hot water with neighbours over developments, including a now-withdrawn application to build a second access road into their home.

They have also been granted planning permission to construct a kitchen garden and glasshouse so that they could grow their own fruit and vegetables.

David created a kitchen garden in his countryside bolthole(Image: davidbeckham/instagram)
One nearby resident told the council: “Many people locally indicated to West Oxfordshire Council that the increase in the residential curtilage of this property will see an ever-increasing number of buildings, and to date we have all been proved right.”

Some within Great Tew and surrounding villages have accused the former footballer and pop star of bringing suburbia to the countryside with development at the property.

The family’s Maplewood Barn property sits just over a mile from the popular members club and hotel Soho Farmhouse and around 7 miles from Chipping Norton. The Beckhams have enjoyed success with their hugely popular Netflix series which shows their home and professional lives.

David shared a gushing tribute to Victoria on her birthday today(Image: Instagram)
It comes after David shared a gushing post to his wife Victoria today as she marked her 51st birthday. Taking to his Instagram page, the footballer started his tribute with an old picture of them sharing a loving smooch in the swimming pool.

He also shared a snap of the two smiling for the camera as the embraced each other on a yacht at a picturesque location in 1999. The tribute wasn’t complete without a snap of the fashion designer with her four children; Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven. He ended the post with a few snaps of Posh Spice as an adorable child.

“Happy Birthday to the most amazing Wife , Mummy & Best Friend that we could all wish for,” he captioned the post.

“Have the most perfect day because you deserve to and we love you so much,” as he tagged his children. Victoria’s son Cruz rushed to the comment section to wish the star a wonderful day. He wrote: “I love you so much mum x from day 1 you have showed us unconditional love and haven’t stopped since.”