David and Victoria Beckham have angered neighbours with plans including tree planting at their luxury Cotswolds home. The couple have submitted plans with the local council for 79 trees as well as a wildflower meadow.
The planting plan comes after an application to upgrade an agricultural track was approved. The track will become a permanent driveway to form the principal access to the £6m property.
Now Lady Victoria and Sir David, who is helping to create a show garden for the King’s Foundation at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, have submitted a landscape and management plan. It includes planting trees the length of one side of the property, where the driveway will be.
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The forest will include 12 European beech, 19 English oak, 15 small-leaved lime, eight field maple, seven Scots pine, five common hazel, five sycamore maple, four holly and four English yew trees. It is hoped the woodland will increase the couple’s privacy after they were targeted by burglars in recent years. The Beckhams now have 24-hour security, as both their London and Cotswolds homes have been hit by attempted break-ins.
The property, which football legend Sir David, 50, and pop star-turned fashion designer Lady Victoria, 51, bought for £6.15m in 2016, will now largely be shielded from prying eyes. But locals have expressed discontent with the work in their area.
Neighbour James Worthington sent in a letter of objection, photos and 43 pages of supporting documents. He added that if the council approved the scheme, the rural house would become a fortress.
Of work and planting already done, he said: “This current application is just a joke. Why submit an application when you have already laid the road, installed gates, laid an electricity supply to the gate, planted trees, installed post and rail fencing along both sides of this track?”
Representatives for the Beckhams were contacted for comment.