Residents in one of England's most iconic villages claim their idyllic community has been shattered by a seemingly endless building project on a historic cottage. Locals in Bibury, Gloucestershire, say relentless renovation work on a Grade II-listed property on Awkward Hill has caused two years of daily disruption, noise, and damage to the area famed for containing 'England's prettiest street'.
A Daily Battle with Noise and Roadblocks
Since 2023, neighbours on Arlington Row, Awkward Hill, and Hawkers Hill have faced constant inconvenience. They report daily roadblocks as large trucks servicing the site choke the narrow lanes, often preventing residents from leaving their homes or even walking down to the village. The heavy vehicles have also churned up and destroyed the grassy verges, leaving a scarred landscape.
Victoria Summerville, 69, a direct neighbour to the cottage, described the profound impact on her daily life. "My common boundary with that cottage is the wall at the bottom of my garden," she said. "Instead of looking out at grass, a cottage or vegetable beds, I felt that in two years I've looked out over what looks like a bombsight." She added that the slow pace is exacerbated by the owner frequently changing his mind about the plans.
Plans Spark Further Controversy
The latest planning applications for the cottage include stripping and replacing the Cotswold stone slate roof tiles and adding insulation to a utility room. More contentious proposals are for an oak conservatory, a stone summerhouse, and an underground garage, which has already received full planning approval.
Bibury Parish Council chairman, Craig Chapman, stated the village has endured "incredible disruption" for years. "It's been perpetual and all of the verges have been ripped up," he said. The council has now vowed to object to further applications, saying "this has to stop" on behalf of exhausted residents. Chapman questioned the suitability of features like an underground garage and palm trees for a historic Cotswolds cottage, noting the owners do not live there permanently and thus avoid the daily chaos.
Architect Responds to Criticism
Matthew Hollingsworth of Spirit Architecture Ltd, acting for the applicant, provided a defence of the project. He clarified that the underground garage, once complete, would be less obvious than a previously approved above-ground structure. He also explained that a major road closure in 2023 was initiated by the highways authority after the Parish Council raised safety concerns about a boundary wall, forcing his client to fund urgent repairs.
Hollingsworth emphasised that the current applications largely concern the "repair and maintenance of the fabric of the listed building," which is generally seen as positive. He attributed delays to the challenging hillside site, limited access, and additional requirements like flood risk assessments. Regarding the palm trees, he stated they have been in place for over 20 years and the owner has tried to retain them as part of the property's history.
Despite these explanations, the sentiment among long-suffering residents remains one of frustration and weariness. One local, a 30-year resident, summarised the feeling, calling the works "inappropriate" and citing the "constant noise, disruption and inconvenience" that has transformed the peace of their picturesque village.
