David and Victoria Beckham rile neighbours with pond plans at £6m Cotswolds mansion
A Cotswolds man has complained about plans to install pond lighting at Sir David and Victoria Beckham’s home, comparing it to the bright lights of Miami and the lights of Blackpool.
The Beckhams plan to install the lighting at their home in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton.
But neighbors are concerned about its impact on bats, light pollution and the surrounding area.
In a comment on the couple’s application, James Worthington said: “If I remember correctly, this pond ‘lake’ is located in a rural setting around Maplewood Barn, with fields etc.
“The proposed thing looks like Miami or Florida, not Great Tew, though. Fancy lighting hanging along a ‘proposed bridge’… spotlights, is this really Great Tew, or have I confused this area with Blackpool?”
Mr Worthington also questioned the placement of the planned “wall lights”.
He added: “If applicants want to live in the suburbs then why would they come to an area like Great Tew? What about the poor bats foraging and commuting?”
It warned that the lights could be a “cause of inconvenience to people” and “harmful to wildlife”, potentially undermining “the enjoyment of the countryside or the night sky”.
Sir David and Lady Beckham have been contacted for comment on the pond lighting plans.
This isn’t the first time the celebrity couple have fallen out with neighbors over their plans for their £6million Cotswolds home.
They were accused of “abusing” the planning system to make significant changes to the property in November.
Planning documents show angry statements to West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) arguing that the Beckhams had “drip-fed” more than 30 applications rather than submitting a single masterplan to “make sure they got what they wanted”.
Since purchasing the three listed barns for £6,150,000 in 2016, the couple have added a new driveway and gates, an additional garage annex, a tennis court, a treehouse, a security lodge, an extension to the garage annex and a landscaped pond and “beach”.
They have also applied to replace and widen the existing lane to create a second entrance to their home in Chipping Norton, as well as making “improvements” to the pavement and gates at the entrance.
