Billionaire Ronald Burkle, owner of the Soho House chain, has had his second attempt to build a large mansion in the Cotswolds rejected by local planners. The proposed six-bedroom home on farmland in Little Tew, Oxfordshire, was described by neighbours as 'grotesque' and a 'monstrous carbuncle'.
The application, submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council, included a gun room, lift, entertainment room, wine store, butler's pantry, and a domed entrance hall inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Plans also featured gardens, a stable courtyard, solar panels, a new lake, and a tree nursery.
Council planners refused permission, stating the development would cause 'substantial harm' to the Little Tew Conservation Area and fail to raise design standards in rural areas. They noted the public benefits did not outweigh the harm identified.
The Little Tew Conservation Group heavily criticised the proposal, arguing it would harm the conservation area's setting and produce no overall environmental benefits. They said the mansion was 'completely out of place' in the location.
Mr Burkle's previous application was refused in December 2022 for not representing a 'truly outstanding development'. The site, 4.37 hectares of farmland near Banbury and Chipping Norton, drew dozens of local objections.
Mr Burkle is executive chairman of Soho House, which operates Soho Farmhouse three miles from the site. He is also behind plans for the Mullin Automotive Museum in California.
