Overview
- West Oxfordshire planners granted permission to convert an agricultural track into a secondary residential access of roughly 800 feet after work began in June 2024.
- Planning documents describe new gates at both ends, tree planting, a wildflower meadow, and biodiversity measures including bird, bat and bug boxes with minimal lighting.
- The couple sought the change to avoid a busy single-lane approach that also serves nearby Soho Farmhouse, citing operational and safety concerns.
- Neighbors filed strong objections, arguing the existing access is sufficient and warning of disturbance to ramblers and increased SUV traffic on rural lanes.
- Separately, the council confirmed it is investigating a reported planning breach related to the property's lake and associated sand bank.