David Cameron has become embroiled in a neighbour row after reviving a bid to construct a swimming pool at his Cotswolds residence.
The former Prime Minister submitted fresh plans despite opposition from residents in the salubrious market town of Chipping Norton.
Having resided in the region for over 20 years, he chose the title of Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton upon entering the House of Lords last year.
The renewed application proposes a 14-metre by 4-metre pool, with the design repositioned closer to his home to create greater distance from neighbouring properties.
However, neighbours in the town have shared their outrage, claiming that the former Tory leader was hoping to turn his garden into “some kind of tacky Benidorm resort”.
They also warned that the plans threaten to diminish the “character” and “charm” of the Cotswolds.
Lord Cameron’s revised submission follows an unsuccessful 2020 attempt that also drew complaints from locals worried about potential disturbances.
“The proposed development will have a serious negative impact on our standard of living and the standard of the local area,” one said at the time.
David Cameron has been embroiled in a neighbour row over his plans for a new swimming pool
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Another Chipping Norton resident feared: “This plan will cause noise from machinery to heat and filter the pool, light pollution, and most importantly, noise pollution from rowdy pool parties going on into the night.”
According to the application documents, the redesigned layout has been “carefully considered so that the pool is part and parcel of the house and its gardens, thereby not encroaching into the wider landscape.”
The planning documents characterise the proposed pool as a “modest-sized” facility featuring a “minimalist and functional design.”
By embedding the structure into the ground, the application argues there will be minimal visual intrusion beyond the property boundaries.
Residents in Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds fear the development would diminish the ‘charm’ of the area
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“The nature of a swimming pool is that it is embedded into the ground; therefore, there will be no physical or appreciable presence of the swimming pool from outside of the property curtilage,” the submission states, per The Telegraph.
Lord and Lady Cameron are among what was once known as the “Chipping Norton set”, the selection of high-profile individuals who lived and still live in the town.
Among this group is Jeremy Clarkson, who lives in the town and films his Clarkson’s Farm programme nearby.
Elisabeth Murdoch, CEO of media production company Shine Limited and the daughter of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, calls Chipping Norton home.
Lord Cameron’s former director of strategy, Steve Hilton, also lives in the community with his wife, Rachel Whetstone, the chief communications officer at Netflix.
Journalist and News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks is another resident, alongside her socialite and racehorse trainer husband, Charlie Brooks.
While not members of the set, David and Victoria Beckham also live in Chipping Norton.