David and Victoria Beckham have secured planning permission to create a new private driveway at their £12 million Oxfordshire estate.
The plans include converting part of an existing agricultural track into a secondary residential access and upgrading gates onto Ledwell Road.
This forms part of the couple’s wider renovation programme, which has already doubled the value of their property through luxury extensions, landscaping and leisure facilities.
Why did the Beckham’s need planning permission?
The application for the new driveway required planning permission because it involved a change of use and structural alterations. Specifically:
- Part of an existing agricultural track was converted into a secondary residential access, which counts as a change of land use and therefore needs council approval.
- Upgrades to the dropped kerb and gates onto Ledwell Road were included, which also required permission because they affect the public highway and visibility.
- The works were part-retrospective, meaning some alterations had already been carried out and needed formal approval to comply with planning regulations.
Planning permission ensures developments meet safety, environmental and aesthetic standards while protecting public rights of way and neighbouring properties.
Council assessment and safety review
West Oxfordshire’s Area Liaison Officer commented on the application, saying: “The proposal, if permitted, will not have a significant detrimental impact (in terms of highway safety and convenience) on the adjacent highway network.”
The council therefore found no reason to object to the application and approved the plans as it was also found the driveway was “not in open countryside” and “would not be particularly prominent in longer views”.
The approval follows a review of traffic, access and safety concerns, ensuring that the new driveway does not negatively affect local roads or walkers.
Part of a wider property upgrade
This latest planning approval is just one part of the Beckhams’ extensive renovation programme, which has included a glasshouse, underground wine cellar, football pitch, sauna and a large ornamental pond.
The ongoing improvements to the Beckham estate have already doubled the estate’s value from £6 million to £12 million, and the new driveway is expected to further enhance both access and the overall appeal of the property.
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