Former Prime Minister David Cameron has finally won approval for a swimming pool at his Cotswolds home, ending a six-year planning dispute with local residents. Neighbours had voiced concerns that the pool would transform the serene village atmosphere into something reminiscent of a “tacky Benidorm” holiday resort.
Cameron, now a member of the House of Lords, first submitted plans for the pool in 2020 but withdrew the application due to residents’ objections. The proposal was later revised and resubmitted in December last year. Despite continued worries about possible noisy gatherings, the local planning authorities gave the project the green light this week.
Officials acknowledged neighbours' concerns but concluded that the planning regulations could not presume unreasonable behaviour. Emile Baldauf-Clark, the planning officer, highlighted that while the pool might cause a slight increase in garden activity, its location—set well away from neighbouring homes within a large semi-rural plot and screened by landscaping—was unlikely to generate disruptive noise. She emphasized that the project aligns with typical residential use and would not materially infringe on neighbours’ enjoyment of their properties.
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The Camerons, part of the so-called “Chipping Norton set” alongside public figures like Jeremy Clarkson and Rebekah Brooks, face ongoing scrutiny regarding their lifestyle and property developments. Some locals feared the swimming pool would encourage lavish entertaining and undermine the village’s quiet charm.
The approved pool measures 13.7 by 4 metres, with a depth of 1.6 metres. Alongside the pool, planning permission was also granted for a 1.5-storey extension and a single-storey side extension to the house.
In earlier objections, residents expressed concerns about noise pollution from pool machinery and potential night-time parties. One described pools as “totally out of keeping” with the area’s character, fearing light and noise pollution would spoil the village’s peace.
The Camerons’ representatives countered these fears by emphasizing that the pool’s design is minimalist and integrated sensitively with the house and garden. The pool will be mostly embedded in the ground with only minor visible features, such as a small stone surround and retaining wall, designed to blend harmoniously with existing structures.
They assured that existing tree belts and hedgerows will screen the pool from outside view, preserving neighbours’ privacy. The aim is to enhance the home’s enjoyment while respecting the character and amenity of the locality.
With these considerations, the council concluded that the swimming pool and extensions preserve the historic value of the property and the rural landscape, without causing harm to neighbours or the wider environment.