Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.David and Victoria Beckham have been accused of ‘drip-feeding’ development at their £6m Cotswolds home.
The celebrity duo have submitted multiple applications for work at their Grade-II listed country house at Maplewood Barn, near Great Tew.
Since buying the three listed barns for £6,150,000 in 2016, the couple have added a new driveway and gates, an additional garage outbuilding, tennis court, treehouse, security hut, extension to the garage outbuilding and a landscaped pond.
The latest application submitted to Oxfordshire County Council is to convert the roof space of an outbuilding into a new home office.
The building is already being used for garden stores and an office but the Beckhams want to add conservation rooflights and access via a Tallet staircase.
Planning documents say the “minor alterations” will “not impact on the appearance of the outbuilding or harm the wider setting” and “there is no impact on neighbouring properties”.
But two neighbours say due to “the drip feeding” of various planning applications, including a log store, it amounts to “residential by the back door”.
One furious neighbour lodged an official response to the application, and said: “Many people locally indicated to West Oxfordshire Council the increase in the residential curtilage of this property will see an ever-increasing number of buildings and to date we have all been proved right.”
Meanwhile, the Beckhams have withdrawn a further planning application to build a second access road to their home.
They had planned to build a temporary 250-metre access road which would be in place for two years so an allotment and glasshouse could be built.
Representatives of the Beckhams have been contacted for comment.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments