An American billionaire has seen his plans for a ‘grotesque’ Cotswolds mansion scuppered after a furious backlash from locals.
Ronald Burkle, 72, who owns celebrity hotspot Soho House, had sought to build a lavish six-bedroom country pile on farmland in the quaint village of Little Tew.
The businessman, who also owns Michael Jackson‘s former Neverland ranch, first launched a bid to build the sprawling manor house in 2022 but it was swiftly rejected.
Insisting he would be ‘a good neighbour’, Mr Burkle put forward another plan for the abode which would feature a gun room, a wine store, a butler’s pantry and a domed entrance hall said to be inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
But he has once again been refused by the council after objections from locals, who were earlier this year joined by conservationists in labelling his proposals as being ‘out of proportion’.
One villager even went as far to say Mr Burke’s plans were ‘of truly outstanding grotesquerie’ in their objection, in which they cited their concerns over light and sound pollution.
The proposed site comprised 4.37 hectares of farmland between Banbury and Chipping Norton and would have seen a natural swimming pool, bather’s pavilion in the ‘pleasure ground’ area and a circular lawn that may be a helipad installed.
Locals had drawn battle lines against the plans for more than three years, and had repeatedly urged West Oxford District City Council to have the scheme thrown out.
An artist impression of Ronald Burkle’s proposed mansion, which has been refused after objections by furious locals, is pictured
Watercolour plans submitted for Mr Burkle’s proposed Cotswolds country house are pictured
Business mogul Mr Burkle, pictured in September, already owns celebrity hotspot Soho House
Announcing the decision notice on Friday, the authority’s planners wrote: ‘The proposed development, by reason of its nature, siting, scale, massing, design and form, would fail to represent a development which would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas, and would be adversely urbanising and transformative in the landscape, failing to significantly enhance its immediate setting, or be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area.
‘The development would also result in a high level of less than substantial harm to the setting of the Little Tew Conservation Area.
‘The public benefits are not considered to outweigh this harm identified.’
Mr Burkle’s previous application was refused in December 2022 for failing to represent a ‘truly outstanding development’ and not meeting specific planning criteria.
Plans for the mansion would also have seen installations of a lift, entertainment room, several reception areas, a stable block and an estate manager’s cottage in the property.
The Little Tew Conservation Group branded the recent proposals as ‘harmful’ and ‘completely out of place in the proposed location’.
They said: ‘The impact of the proposed development upon the setting of the Little Tew Conservation Area would be harmful.
‘This has been discussed and set out in previous submissions made by the Conservation Group and planning and conservation officers.
‘As for public benefits, these are of little weight and not as claimed in the summary of benefits submitted.
‘They do not produce overall environmental benefits but there are harmful impacts including on ecology, hydrology, landscape, heritage, archaeology and enjoyment of the footpaths in the countryside.’
The tiny Oxfordshire getaway is surrounded by fields, small woodland and rolling hills
It is just a few miles away from Chipping Norton and from Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop
The group said all these concerns ‘substantially outweigh any public benefits’, adding: ‘It is not accepted to be an outstanding piece of architecture and landscape design but completely out of place in the proposed location.’
In comments submitted by Worlledge Associates, on behalf of the applicant, it said: ‘The use of classical architectural forms is appropriate. The scale of the house and its designed landscape is appropriate and fits historic precedents.
‘The proposed location of a house of this size is consistent with historic precedents.
‘Understanding and experience of the agricultural context of Little Tew (and Great Tew) will remain.
‘The proposed development would not result in harm to the setting of Little Tew.
‘The character and use of the site as farmland will change, but intellectually and in a sensory way this will add to people’s experience.’
Among those neighbours to object, one wrote: ‘Rather than being a development of ‘truly outstanding quality’, I believe it to be a proposal of truly outstanding grotesquerie.
‘It would be a travesty for light and sound pollution to be increased by such a massive intrusion on the outskirts of our village.
‘Please reject what would clearly be an inappropriate, non-isolated, habitat-threatening, polluting, un-enhancing and insensitive “monstrous carbuncle”.’
Plan of proposed Cotswolds country house and grounds. The site would see a lake constructed
Ground floor plan submitted for Ronald Burkle’s Cotswolds country house in Little Tew near Banbury
Mr Burkle is a Californian investor behind a string of deals involving US supermarkets.
He bought a majority stake in Soho House – which includes Soho Farmhouse – in 2012 and serves as executive chairman.
The ultra-rich American purchased the Neverland ranch in December 2020 for around £16million.
He is behind plans for the Mullin Automotive Museum in nearby Enstone approved last year despite almost 200 objection letters sent to the council.
The planning committee rejected earlier designs for the house in 2022 for failing to represent a ‘truly outstanding development’ and not meeting specific planning criteria.
In a recent interview the 72-year-old business mogul said he would be a good neighbour wherever he ends up living and support local charities and community organisations.
He also said he is still in the process of buying the land and the current owner had drawn up the plans before he got involved.
Mr Burkle added that he would only proceed to buy it if he gets planning approval.
The Daily Mail has approached Worlledge Associates, who are representing Mr Burkle, for comment.
