Plans by David and Victoria Beckham to add an oak-framed balcony to their Cotswolds home have been rejected by local council officials. The proposal for the "west elevation of the west wing" of their nine-bedroom property was deemed a "non-starter" by conservation and design officers.
According to planning officer Nathan Harris, the proposed balcony raised concerns regarding its "siting and design," stating it would "detract from the simple agricultural character and form" of the house. While the residence is not a listed building, Harris concluded the proposal would "fail to conserve and enhance the building."
Bryan Martin, the council's senior conservation and design officer, further criticized the plan, calling it a "domesticating feature" that would "obscure the threshing doorway – a characteristic feature." He added that there was "no obvious way to do anything like it."
The Beckhams purchased the Oxfordshire property for £6.15 million in 2016. The estate reportedly includes a gym, spa, cinema, games room, an Estonian sauna, hot tub, and plunge pool. This latest setback follows a previous decision requiring the removal of a "fire pit" on an island in the property's man-made lake.