Since purchasing their Grade-II listed Maplewood Barn estate in 2016 for £6.15 million, David and Victoria Beckham have submitted more than 30 planning applications to modify their rural home in West Oxfordshire. Their extensive series of applications has drawn sharp criticism from neighbors and local objectors, who accuse the couple of ‘drip-feeding’ planning requests rather than providing a comprehensive masterplan from the outset.
Among the proposed changes are the construction of a new access route aimed at bypassing traffic congestion caused by visitors heading to the nearby Soho Farmhouse. The Beckhams seek to convert an existing agricultural pathway into a tarmacked residential access road, linking it to their current driveway and upgrading gates and kerbs on Ledwell Lane.
Local resident James Worthington has vocally opposed the endless stream of applications, questioning how more than 30 submissions could be accepted without a unified plan. He remarked, “Why did the council not demand a masterplan from the start instead of allowing a drip, drip feed of applications that seem designed to ensure approval by default?” Worthington also raised concerns about unauthorized structures and unsafe fencing featuring barbed wire near wildlife habitats, which he claims have been overlooked by planning authorities despite repeated complaints.
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Additional changes to the property over the years include a new driveway and gates, an extra garage outbuilding, a tennis court, a treehouse, a security hut, an extension to the garage, and a landscaped pond — all contributing to a controversial transformation of the once modest rural site.
The latest application, still under review by West Oxfordshire District Council, focuses on creating a secondary entrance for the residence, improving safety and traffic flow since the current sole access via the single-lane Tracey Lane cul-de-sac is congested with visitors to Soho Farmhouse. The Beckhams’ representatives argue that converting the agricultural track into a tarmacked access will provide a safer, more convenient route while preserving the rural character and heritage of the area.
They describe the project as a “modest, sensitively designed conversion” which addresses operational and safety concerns, decreases traffic on Tracey Lane, and enhances journey reliability without compromising the landscape. Part of the work — including a connecting link between the track and driveway — has already been completed and is now subject to retrospective planning approval.
Nearby residents remain divided, with some fearing the increased use of the new access road by large vehicles will disrupt walkers and disturb the tranquil countryside atmosphere.
West Oxfordshire District Council has yet to issue a decision on the Beckhams’ latest proposal, with local interest in the outcome remaining high as the planning process continues.