David and Victoria Beckham have secured planning permission for a new private driveway at their £12 million Cotswolds estate, despite objections from neighbours. The couple plan to convert a farm track into an 800-foot-long access road, allowing them to avoid sharing the current route with guests of the nearby Soho Farmhouse members' club.
West Oxfordshire District Council approved the 'change of use' application, which includes new entrance gates, tree planting, and biodiversity enhancements such as bird boxes and hedgehog houses. The Beckhams' planning agent argued the scheme 'integrates discreetly with its agricultural context' and causes 'no significant landscape or visual harm'.
However, local residents voiced strong opposition. One objector wrote: 'The house already has one perfectly serviceable access road so why is another stretch of tarmac land through the woods deemed a good idea?' Another said: 'Many locally have said enough is enough and it’s about time the planners indicated this to the applicants.'
The couple had previously faced scrutiny for building without permission. Construction on the track began in June 2024 but is not yet complete. The Grade II listed estate, purchased in 2016 for £6.15 million, has undergone extensive renovations including a lake nearly three-quarters the size of a football pitch.
The Beckhams' property portfolio, valued at £111 million, also includes a £40 million London mansion and a recently purchased £55 million Miami home. The family splits time between the UK and the US, where David is co-owner of Inter Miami football club.
