Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham have had their planning application for an oak balcony at their Cotswolds estate rejected by West Oxfordshire District Council. The council described the proposed structure as 'alien' to the agricultural character of the property, which is a Grade-II listed barn conversion known as Maplewood Barn near Great Tew.
Planners' Decision
In a decision notice, planners stated: 'The proposed balcony would introduce an overtly domestic feature which is alien to the utilitarian agricultural character of the former farmstead and would undermine the careful balance achieved through the original conversion of the site.' They added that the balcony would provide only private amenity benefits, which carry 'very limited weight in the planning balance,' and that no public benefits had been identified to outweigh the harm to the listed building.
The Beckhams' Application
The application, the 44th submitted by the couple since they purchased the property a decade ago, sought to replace existing Crittall-style screen and doors with a larger opening and install an oak-framed balcony on the western elevation. The Beckhams argued in supporting documents that the works were 'carefully designed to consider the character and significance of Maplewood Barn and its listed setting' and would not harm historic fabric. They stated: 'The replacement glazing will match the existing design, proportions, and colour, ensuring visual continuity with the existing barns, while the oak balcony introduces a simple and sympathetic addition.'
History of Planning Disputes
The rejection follows a series of planning battles for the couple, who have been accused by neighbours of 'drip-feeding' development at the estate. Since buying the three listed barns for £6,150,000 in 2016, they have added a new driveway and gates, an additional garage outbuilding, a tennis court, a treehouse, a security hut, an extension to the garage outbuilding, and a landscaped pond. Earlier this year, they secured permission for a new driveway and access road to avoid traffic heading to Soho Farmhouse. They also won approval for lighting around their kidney-shaped pond, which had appeared in a Netflix documentary.
Previous Balcony Row
This is not the first time the Beckhams have been involved in a balcony dispute. In 2020, they lost a battle to stop a neighbour at their Holland Park home in London from creating a first-floor balcony that could overlook their back garden. Amended plans were approved after a council officer dismissed privacy fears.
