The owner of Soho House has been refused permission to build a ‘grotesque’ mansion in the Cotswolds. Businessman Ronald Burkle, who owns the celebrity hotspot, wanted to build a huge six-bedroom mansion on farmland in Little Tew.
However, after his previous attempt was refused in 2022, he was rebuffed for a second time after strong local opposition. His mansion plans also included a gun room, lift, entertainment room and wine store, several reception rooms, a butler’s pantry and a domed entrance hall said to be inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
However, the application, submitted last year to West Oxfordshire District Council, was turned down by planners, who said it would cause “substantial” harm to the conservation area.
The proposed site comprises 4.37 hectares of farmland in Little Tew between Banbury and Chipping Norton and the application was met with dozens of local objections.
In a decision notice posted on Friday, council 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.”
The house plans also included details of gardens, a stable courtyard, solar panels, a new lake, and a tree nursery.
A previous application from Mr Burkle was refused in December 2022 because it did not represent a ‘truly outstanding development’ and did not meet specific planning criteria.
The most recent plans were described as ‘grotesque’ by one neighbour ,while The Little Tew Conservation Group also heavily criticised the proposal.
The group 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 group said all these concerns “substantially outweigh any public benefits”.
They added: “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’.”
Mr Burkle is executive chairman of Soho House, which includes Soho Farmhouse, three miles from the site.
He is also behind plans for the Mullin Automotive Museum in nearby Enstone approved last year despite almost 200 objection letters sent to the council.
In a recent interview the 72-year-old mogul, who owns six properties including Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch, 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.
He added he would only proceed to buy it if he got planning approval.
