A well-known pair of celebrities are encountering resistance from local inhabitants concerning plans for their million-pound Cotswolds home in Oxfordshire.
The ex-Manchester United and England footballer alongside his spouse, the former Spice Girls member, have resided at the Great Tew site for roughly a decade.
The estate stands on an un-named lane opposite Soho Farmhouse, an exclusive private members’ venue.
The barn transformation, occupying a two-acre plot, has seen substantial enhancements including a glass structure, large water feature, underground storage for wine and an artificial grass sports area.
The dwelling measures 14,270 square feet, was built in 2018 and comprises nine bedrooms, four shower rooms, a screening room and an exercise space.
The prominent family has previously clashed with local people over schemes for the estate.
The pair lodged a request with West Oxfordshire District Council seeking consent to transform an existing farm lane into a second access point for household purposes.
This scheme provoked criticism, with one frustrated local resident contending it would affect walkers who ought to remain uninterrupted by massive four-by-fours rumbling backwards and forwards.
The scheme secured approval earlier in the year, though the pair now faces fresh objections from neighbouring residents.
According to a Daily Mail report, a substantial tree-planting undertaking represents the most recent development.
The pair has sought council permission to introduce 79 trees and create a wildflower area on their land.
The grounds improvement plans involve positioning trees along one edge of the estate to establish a natural barrier intended to boost privacy.
The arboreal selection includes 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.
The planting should offer greater shielding, particularly after earlier burglary attempts at both their metropolitan London and Cotswolds properties, which led to constant security being arranged.
Local inhabitant James Worthington submitted a formal objection accompanied by a detailed 45-page dossier, remarking that the current application was merely a mockery and questioning why an application had been submitted when the road had already been surfaced, gates erected, an electricity supply installed at the entrance, trees planted, and post and rail fencing erected along both sides of the track.
The pair has previously been criticised for incrementally carrying out work at their £6m Cotswolds property.
They have submitted multiple applications for alterations to their Grade-II listed countryside home.
Since buying the three listed barns for £6,150,000 in 2016, they have built a fresh approach road and entrance gates, a supplementary garage building, a court for tennis, a treehouse, a security station, an extension to the existing garage and a designed water feature.