Tensions have exploded on the picture-postcard lanes of Bibury in the Cotswolds, where residents of one of Britain's most famous streets are up in arms over a neighbour's plan to turn his chocolate-box cottage into an Airbnb.
'Selfish' Move Sparks 'House Grab' Accusations
Bulgarian national Yani Minkov purchased the stunning property on Awkward Hill in 2012, but locals claim he has barely lived there since. With average house prices in the sought-after hamlet sitting at £1.5 million, neighbours have accused him of a 'house grab' and failing to appreciate his prime postcode.
One homeowner told the Daily Mail: 'It's a real shame when people buy properties in the village but then don't live in them. It feels selfish to me.' Another long-term resident, David Jacobs, 45, echoed the sentiment, stating it was 'very sad' to see the lovely home sit empty and expressing annoyance at the forthcoming Airbnb listing. 'This is already too full with tourists. We need more locals,' he added.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Minkov, his friend Milen offered an apology for any inconvenience and confirmed: 'It will soon be let out as an Airbnb.'
'Cultural Vandalism' and 'Sheer Hell' on the Same Street
The row over the empty home is compounded by a major planning dispute just next door. Wealthy Turkish couple Metin and Gulbin Dener bought a Grade-II listed property on Awkward Hill for £1.1 million in 2022 and began extensive renovations in 2023.
Neighbours have blasted the 'endless' building work, which is thought to have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, as 'cultural vandalism'. They describe their lives as 'sheer hell' and an 'absolute nightmare' due to constant noise, disruption, and traffic issues. The couple are said to be living outside the UK while the transformation continues.
This double blow has left the community, famed for Arlington Row - often called England's prettiest street - feeling under siege from external interests they believe are undermining the village's character.
A Village Identity Under Threat
The disputes highlight a deeper conflict in idyllic rural communities between property ownership and community integration. Residents lament the loss of potential family homes and the influx of transient visitors. The social media history of the Turkish couple, who posted photos enjoying the village years before buying there, contrasts sharply with the current reality faced by their neighbours.
With one home set to become a short-term let and another a prolonged building site, the residents of Bibury's Awkward Hill are fighting to preserve the essence of their world-renowned community.
