EXC: David and Victoria Beckham WIN approval to build ‘barn for bats and birds’ at Cotswolds home

170

View
comments

The Beckhams have been given the green light to build a ‘barn for bats and birds.’  

And MailOnline can reveal that on Wednesday, West Oxfordshire District Council granted David, 46, and Victoria Beckham, 47, with the approval needed to move forward with their re-landscaping plans in the gardens of their £6.15million Grade II-listed country mansion.

The council biodiversity team were initially unhappy with the couple’s plans to build a wildlife corridor to allow birds, bats and bugs to flourish, but have now come back and given their approval – with specific conditions. 

This includes building at least one bat box and bird box, the ‘creation of a new native species-rich hedgerow’, ‘a five-year aftercare maintenance plan’ and ‘no external lighting’, which would harm the wildlife. 

West Oxfordshire District Council biodiversity team complained twice about the plans to erect a detached building comprising of office and storage space and change of use of land to extend the domestic curtilage.

Most recently, the issue was that they did not contain enough technical information. 

However, council biodiversity officer Esther Frizell-Armitage has now approved the plans but with a list of conditions, to ensure that no harm comes to badgers, nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians, hedgehogs and bats. 

The Beckham’s must build at least one permanent bat box and bird box, create ‘a new native species-rich hedgerow’, they must have ‘a five-year aftercare maintenance plan’ and there must be ‘no external lighting’, which would harm the wildlife. 

The couple had enlisted their own ecology experts, AA Environmental Ltd, to produce a report, which included an on-site visit last month.

The results stated that there was negligible impact on bats and ‘apart from a few common species of birds, either recorded on the site or flying overhead, no other species of any note were recorded.’

Even so, the Beckhams promised to construct ‘a new native hedgerow planted to link the hedgerows together to create a wildlife corridor’ and the new building will provide ‘new roosting and nesting opportunities for bats and birds.’ 

The celebrity pair were forced to submit the in-depth report as part of their plans for their eco-friendly garage, which will hold hi-tech farm vehicles including buggies and quad bikes.

This included all site personnel be given ‘toolbox talks’ – a group presentation and discussion – on nature topics such as amphibians and reptiles.

As the couple were previously advised, work must take place outside the bird nesting season, which means it can’t begin until the end of August. 

David and Victoria previously applied to erect an outbuilding to store all the machinery to keep their pad’s lawns manicured, as well as the equipment to tend to fields they have leased from the nearby estate.

Wildlife experts waded into the Beckhams’ plans over the months, which have also included designs for a lake and the ‘barn for bats and birds’.

Due to the plethora of protected species at the site, experts questioned the disruption that could be caused.

In an effort to account for the habitats of these animals, football legend David submitted updated plans and photos detailing how the couple will look after them.

MailOnline contacted David and Victoria Beckham’s representatives for comment at the time.    

Posh and Becks purchased their countryside abode in December 2016, and an application last month showed a Springwatch-style barn, which will feature ‘new roosting and nesting opportunities’ for flying mammals.

The Beckhams had to submit a detailed ecological report when applying for permission to build the new outbuilding. 

That report stated that ‘any new lighting to be introduced should be designed to minimise light spillage and pollution and not directed on to any bird/bat boxes installed’.

It also asserted that workers will be advised about local wildlife, and that installation will take place outside the bird nesting season, which means building work cannot start until the end of August.

According to reports from The Sun, the former professional footballer and fashion mogul have ensured their barn is ecological in order for it to be approved by the local council.  

A source speaking to the publication at the time, said: ‘David and Victoria are used to their plans causing a stir with the council but they’ve taken so much care in all the details for their plans that they are confident it will pass. 

‘They’ve woven ecology into the design of the building and it will have room for nesting birds, as well as bat boxes.  

‘It’s just annoying they have to wait for decisions like this as it slows everything down, but that comes with the territory.’

In May, the couple revealed their plans for the barn, when they submitted the plans to West Oxfordshire District Council

Plans show the couple want a large ‘machinery’ shed at their £6 million bolthole on the Great Tew Estate will help with their hobbies of gardening and farming.

But they also need space for the large array of tools to help them tend to their sprawling lawns, tennis courts, treehouse and even a huge lake they have won planning permission to build. 

A design statement said: ‘The proposed garden machinery store is to be used solely in association with the main dwelling house.

‘It will serve as a machinery store for tractors, lawn mowers and other machinery required to manage the garden and grounds, including the adjacent fields which the owners have leased from Great Tew Estate.’

The celebrity couple, who spent most of lockdown in the UK, are also planning a stylish driveway to the shed which will be covered with Cotswolds shingle.

The 55.8 square metre outbuilding will be of traditional design, and shielded from neighbours with hedgerows.   

The building will also have an office if husband David needs to work on his new US football club Inter Miami, or if Victoria needs to put time into her multi-million pound fashion brand.

The couple say the design of the shed will fit in with the beautiful country pad, with the plans stating: ‘The proposed garden machinery store will be completed using the same high-quality materials as used elsewhere on the site, with waney edged, horizontal weatherboard cladding to the walls, a plain clay tiled roof, timber doors and Crittall style metal windows.

‘The timber post and beam frame will be supported on staddle stones in local ironstone.’

Despite enraging neighbours with their several huge plans to develop the farmhouse, no one has objected to their latest project so far. 

Back in December, the couple’s plans to build a huge lake at their Cotswolds home began – despite backlash from neighbours. 

Diggers were pictured excavating the proposed site, to work on expanding the size of the existing lake from 2976 sq metres to 4,170 sq metres, so they could add an island.

When David and Victoria submitted the plans, they were met with concern from fellow residents who voiced fears of the brood ‘racing speed boats and shattering the peace’.  

Despite protests from residents, the council gave the couple permission to create the water feature on their land in August.  

The Beckham family’s building plans had previously been blocked to protect wildlife before being given the green light under certain conditions.   

The lake has been the subject to much discussion from residents, with one writing to the council at the time of the proposal voicing their objection, asserting that ‘it is just not on!’  

According to The Sun, one neighbour said in a letter of complaint to West Oxfordshire District Council: ‘I must object in the strongest terms to this new proposal. I was an objector to the original plan and my concerns were ignored.

‘I feel that his plan to enlarge the lake could increase the chances of flooding in the area considerably. Also, the lake looks just too large for the area it sits in.

 ‘It is out of keeping with the area and what is planned next? Motor boats zooming up and down and shattering the peace? it is just not on and should not be allowed.’

Despite the uproar from neighbours, the lake extension is the Beckhams’ latest planning success after they were given the green light to build a wine cellar and a guard house. 

The lake was required to have an underground chamber – known as a hibernacula – to help support reptiles, amphibians and hedgehogs. 

The council also requires the Beckhams to submit a five-year maintenance plan to show how they will support the area’s biodiversity.

Several residents objected to the plans. Neighbour Michael Douglas blasted the couple for ‘trying to bring suburbia to the countryside’.

He said: ‘If they had wanted all they have applied for, why not find an estate which was big enough to accommodate all of this.’ 

However, West Oxfordshire District Council ignored residents’ objections to the Beckhams’ plans.

The council’s report said it had three letters of objection from neighbours, with some residents branding the lake ‘ugly’, ‘monstrous’ and ‘out of keeping’ with the posh area.  

It summarised their concerns as: ‘Out of keeping. Won’t appear a natural feature. Will alter the visual impact of the countryside in that area of green fields with crops in them. Harmful to wildlife. How are they proposing to fill this lake?

‘If yet another bore hole, Soho Farmhouse, is drilled down it will of course affect the water table.’

However Ms Eldrige’s report said: ‘The site is in a relatively isolated location so the development will not impact any neighbouring properties.’

MailOnline contacted the Beckham’s representatives for comment at the time.