Overview

• Ronald Burkle resubmitted plans for a six-bedroom classical-style mansion on 4.37 hectares of Little Tew farmland after an earlier refusal in December 2022, with his purchase of the land conditional on planning approval.
• Little Tew Conservation Group joined 42 objectors in warning the proposal would harm local ecology, landscape character and the conservation area, while 33 supporters have praised its design and community benefits.
• Architect Francis Terry’s scheme features a domed entrance hall inspired by the Pantheon, gun room, entertainment suite, wine store, natural swimming pool, stables and a circular lawn intended as a helipad.
• Applicant representatives from Worlledge Associates argue the house’s classical forms and scale respect historic precedents and will foster artisan apprenticeships and high-quality craftsmanship.
• Oxfordshire County Council has urged a practical field investigation around a suspected Iron Age fort site, adding heritage and archaeological scrutiny to the planning process.