David and Victoria Beckham win planning row to plant forest at their luxury £6.15million Cotswolds home after being targeted by burglary gangs

David and Victoria Beckham have been given the green light to create a vast forest at their luxury Cotswolds home amid recent security concerns.

The 50-year-old former footballer and the 51-year-old fashion designer have submitted plans to the local council to plant 79 trees and a wildflower meadow on their property, which they bought for around £6.15 million in 2016.

The couple have since redeveloped what was once a rundown estate into a sprawling countryside residence now thought to be worth £12 million.

West Oxfordshire District Council had already approved plans for a private driveway; The new ‘forest’ is the latest planning triumph for the Beckhams after attempts to break into their homes in both London and the Cotswolds led to 24-hour security.

The planned woodland, which will include 12 European beeches, 19 English oaks, 15 small-leaved limes, 8 field maples, 7 Scots pines, 5 hazels, 5 sycamore maples, 4 holly and 4 English yew trees, will now largely protect their homes from prying eyes.

This will complement the new driveway, which will provide ‘high-level security controlled access to the property with inward-opening gates’.

However, some locals were not happy with the proposals put forward by the Beckhams.

David and Victoria Beckham have redeveloped what was once a rundown estate into a sprawling countryside residence now thought to be worth £12 million.

Woodland plans show existing trees (blue) along with dozens of trees (green) the Beckhams propose to plant

Neighbor James Worthington lodged a formal objection with 45 pages of supporting material, claiming the famous couple were trying to turn their home into a ‘castle’ and had already begun work before receiving approval.

he said before Mirror: ‘This current practice is just a joke.

‘Why would you apply when we have paved the road, installed the gates, installed electricity to the gate, planted trees, laid post and rail fences on both sides of this road?’

He added: ‘I am sure that before long, due to recent events, the five-bar gate will be replaced and stone pillars will be built with sturdy double electric gates 1.8 meters high, with CCTV and lighting mounted on the pillars.

‘There will be lighting along the track, mark my words it will happen, maybe not now but in a few months.’

In August 2023, the Beckhams were forced to withdraw their planning application for a new 250-metre access road following a series of complaints, including from Mr Worthington.

At the time, he objected to the access road and sent council photographs that allegedly proved work had begun.

Mr Worthington added in his letter: ‘A large spruce pine tree has already been felled, its roots are entirely in the ground, a membrane has already been laid, posts have been placed in the ground with barbed wire instead of rails on either side of this already laid road.

‘This track was recently laid, it wasn’t there a year ago.’

Local resident Joan Lane, who lives in Great Tew, also objected, saying: ‘I must strongly object to this proposal.

‘The house already has a perfectly usable access road, so why is laying another tarmac into the woods considered a good idea?

‘Roamers use the lane and should not be disturbed by giant SUVs lumbering up and down. Please do not allow this application.’

However, the couple successfully defended their case over the new woodland and new access road.

Currently, the Beckhams’ estate near Great Tew has single-lane cul-de-sac access, which also serves as the only way for visitors to get to Soho Farmhouse, a luxury retreat billed as a ‘countryside escape’.

The swanky establishment charges members £250 a month to enjoy the pools, health club and range of countryside activities on offer, including clay pigeon shooting.

During the summer months, celebrities arrive in droves to relax and socialize, and their flashy cars all filter down the same and currently only road that serves the Beckhams’ own private holiday.

In documents supporting their application for the new access road, the couple said their current access to Tracey Lane was problematic because it was a disposable cul-de-sac with heavy and ‘unsafe’ traffic levels.

Couple’s planning team He prepared a detailed transportation report, which included a vehicle survey indicating that up to 180 vehicles per hour were traveling to and from the scene during peak hours.

The report notes that this can sometimes lead to driver conflicts, which is a situation the Beckhams personally want to avoid: ‘Delays also occur when vehicles misjudge the speed and position of oncoming vehicles, resulting in conflicts and vehicles having to reverse to the nearest crossing point, harming road safety.

‘Given these vehicle flows and vehicle conflicts… it may become difficult for residents to exit the existing road without conflicting with traffic coming from both directions.’

David and Victoria were previously accused of a ‘drip feeding’ project at their Cotswolds home.

They made multiple applications to work in Grade II-listed country houses.

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, tennis court, treehouse, security lodge, garage annex extension and a landscaped pond.

them along the way Neighbors in the Cotswolds were left in shock over the work they did on their country house.

1000 square meters sand bank close to man-made lake currently under investigation Following a complaint that it had breached agreed planning consent.

A source said: ‘Neighbors think it’s completely out of line with the surrounding area and are very reluctant to comply with the rules.’

The beach bordering their giant lake was visible between a wooden pier and a safari tent as the couple tearfully discussed Victoria’s ambitions and their future together in the latest Netflix documentary.

The couple retreat from their £25million West London mansion to a converted barn in the Cotswolds (pictured) at the weekends.

David and Victoria were photographed at their Cotswolds home with their children, including their estranged eldest son Brooklyn

But when the kidney-shaped lake was established, the rules were extremely specific so that it would ‘adapt well in the rural context’.

Detailed notes and diagrams at the time said the surrounding area should be landscaped like an ‘organic parkland’, with wildflower meadows, native trees, shrubs and other plants to provide a habitat for nesting birds, small animals and insects.

The council is currently investigating concerns that the beach is not consistent with what was agreed.

West Oxfordshire District Council confirmed: ‘A report of planning infringement has been received and will now be investigated.’