The application relates to a kidney-shaped pond and private island at their home in Great Tew.
The couple were previously granted planning permission for the pond in 2020, but only under strict conditions, including that it must “sit well win its rural context.”
To comply with further requirements under more recent planning permission—which included the “enlargement of approved pond and inclusion of an island”—the Beckhams have now submitted a new planning application.
The application relates to a kidney-shaped pond and private island at their home in Great Tew, Oxfordshire. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
The council said: “Under no circumstances should any other external lighting be installed without prior consent from the local planning authority.”
Before the site is brought into use, the couple must provide details of any external lighting and have them approved in writing by the council.
The plans must show the type and location of lighting to ensure that light spillage into wildlife corridors is minimised, with particular protection for “foraging and commuting bats.”
A second planning condition requires the Beckhams to submit a full landscape scheme.
The council added: “The scheme must show details of all planting areas, tree and plant species, numbers and planting sizes.
“The proposed means of enclosure and screening should also be included, together with details of any mounding, walls and fences and hard surface materials to be used throughout the proposed development.”
The application includes documents prepared by Portus + Whitton setting out a five-year maintenance framework for the site.
Plans also show diagrams of the proposed lighting and future tree planting.
A decision will be made by West Oxfordshire Council in due course.
Maplewood Barn has been at the centre of several planning applications since the Beckhams purchased it for £6,150,000 in 2016.
Developments have included a new driveway and gates, an additional garage outbuilding, tennis court, treehouse, security hut, garage extension and landscaped pond.
Neighbours have previously accused the couple of “bringing suburbia” to the countryside and of drip-feeding development at the site.
One angry neighbour said he “wouldn’t be surprised if the celebrity couple applied for a funfair ride to be installed in the garden.”
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