David Beckham has successfully navigated a planning dispute with neighbours to receive official approval for a new barn on his expansive Cotswolds estate near Chipping Norton. The football legend, 50, was granted a “prior determination notification” allowing him to build a timber-clad barn designed to store hay, straw, and agricultural equipment.
The plans, submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council, sparked mixed reactions from local residents. One neighbour, Harriet Jones, expressed frustration over ongoing developments on the Beckham property, lamenting the trend of celebrities moving into rural areas only to erect numerous buildings and make extensive alterations. While she did not name Beckham directly, her comments underscored community concerns about preserving the countryside’s character.
The proposed structure, measuring 10 meters by 5 meters, features a steel frame clad in wood with a metal roof. Despite objections, planning officials have approved the barn, alongside permissions for a kitchen garden and glasshouse to support home-grown produce.
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Beckham’s rural lifestyle includes beekeeping, chicken rearing, and enjoying the estate’s large lake. This is not his first development at the property, which he and wife Victoria purchased for £6 million in 2016. Previous planning applications, such as a second access road to the estate and converting attic space into offices, faced opposition or were withdrawn.
In addition to his property developments, Beckham recently took on a guest editor role for a magazine celebrating rural life and British landscapes—following a tradition set by members of the British Royal Family including King Charles III, Princess Anne, and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Adding to a milestone year, Beckham is set to be knighted in the King’s birthday honours list on June 14. He expressed enthusiasm for highlighting the importance of the countryside, saying he looks forward to creating an issue that reflects what the great British landscape means to him and his family.