Oxford News
King Charles’ peace ‘under threat’ after planning battle loss
Plans to block a large housing development that would “destroy” the monarch’s tranquillity and security at Highgrove House have been thrown out.
Residents have failed in a bid to turn fields bordering the royal residence into public outdoor spaces after developers earmarked it for 135 new homes.
The housing scheme was met with public fury when it was first revealed, and developers were accused of profiteering – over fears they would destroy the cherished wildflower meadows and charge a premium to be ‘the King’s neighbour’.
The fields between Bath Road and Longfurlong Lane on the outskirts of Tetbury in Gloucestershire have been described as a nature lover’s paradise – with some of the hedges even planted by the King himself.
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But the residents’ bid to thwart any development and change the use of the agricultural land into areas or places for outdoor sport or recreation has been rejected by Cotswolds District Council.
The proposal by the Longfurlong Greenfields Association had intended to safeguard the privately-owned land and preserve the tranquillity around the Cotswold royal family residence,
More than 150 residents attended a recent council meeting.
Their spokesperson Steve Keitley told councillors they wanted to protect a “beautiful piece of landscape for the benefit of all persons who want to continue to enjoy a piece of the Cotswolds.”
He told the planning committee the meadows had been undisturbed for “probably centuries” and said any development would destroy what has always been a “village-like environment”.
He added: “The application would protect and preserve the landscape, views and open countryside within the Cotswold National Landscape.
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“The proposal would prevent future development, protect the area for future generations and accord with planning policies relating to nature and the countryside.”
He told the committee that approval of the application would protect the land from “speculative development.”
The applicant Peter Martin added: “The application was intended to protect the site in its current form and would not result in increased traffic, parking, visitors, flooding, development or loss of biodiversity.”
Councillor and local ward member Laura Hall-Wilson said she supported the intention to safeguard the land from residential development and noted strong local opposition to housing on the site.
But other committee members said although they fully applauded the applicant’s objectives, they were wary of the floodgates opening on similar change of use applications.
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Permission was refused in line with the officer’s recommendation by a vote of five to two.
Locals have previously spoken out about their fears that large-scale housing proposals by Miller Homes could even lead to unintended confrontations with armed security staff.
Cllr Laura Hall-Wilson, who represents Tetbury with Upton for Cotswold District Council, said she hasn’t spoken to a single resident of Tetbury who was not against the scheme – and accused the developers of a cynical attempt to build homes and then hike the price under the banner of being a royal neighbour.
She said: “I am not saying the King should have any say over land use above that of a normal citizen. But it is very close to Highgrove, and the people of Tetbury give him peace wherever he goes.
“I am sure he enjoys the tranquillity of the fields and the surroundings.
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“People here are very respectful of that, and they are generally royalists and like the King.
“He has been very supportive of the town, and I think the relationship is good. Everyone is very respectful of their privacy.
“It does feel like cynical form from the developer to try and build all these homes right next to Highgrove.
“Then they can try and whack a premium on them and market the benefit of being the king’s next door neighbour.
“I am not qualified to talk in detail about security concerns, but I would be surprised if there wasn’t, given how close all these homes will be.
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“Highgrove is very well policed. You would do well to sneak in there without being seen, but I think there has got to be some concern there.
“It is extremely unpopular in the village – I would say it is unanimously unpopular in Tetbury – I’ve not spoken to anyone in favour.
“It is beautiful, quiet and peaceful and has existing footpaths over it. It already has access and no houses. They want to concrete a footpath through houses.
“It’s open countryside, and it is deep shades of green with some old Cotswold stone walls, old buildings, barns and lovely trees that have been there a long time. It is just a lovely piece of Cotswold countryside.
“We are all aware that just not wanting houses in a field is strong enough reason and we need to fight this on planning grounds.
“But there are multiple reasons around the application, from water drainage to flooding and access.”
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Peter Martin, a former district councillor and chairman of residents’ group the Longfurlong Greenfields Association (LGA), added: “Tetbury has that royal connection and while the cost of building houses is the same they know they can charge that extra for the name and being ‘next to the King.’
“It is right on the border with land owned by Highgrove and the high security zone is one field back and no more than 150 metres away.
“I suspect and would hope the security team would have a word and say it is not acceptable for people milling around so close to high security.
“It is patrolled by armed officers. They won’t want an accidental conflict with the public.
“Security won’t want dogs running around, and children playing so close to it.
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“The King is not allowed to interfere with the planning process, and that is the right thing. But I think his security might do that.
“He won’t approve of it, I’m sure, but will have to let the planning process play out. But there are lots of planning reasons why it shouldn’t go ahead.”
Peter said the King’s privacy was greatly protected by locals and said this could be impacted if the housing development gets the green light.
He added: “I’ve met him several times. He is a very private person but always got involved in the town in a quiet kind way.
“It’s always kind, measured and thoughtful interventions. Not flashy. But the town is very protective of him and his privacy. We know he comes here to do the same things as us in the fields, to relax and let nature take over.
“He comes down here to forget about the problems in London. For us as a community, we absolutely guard his privacy.
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“He wants to enjoy the lovely, rural nature, listen to the birds, and he is an avid gardener.
“He has certainly enjoyed these fields himself. I know he personally laid three of the hedges out there behind the woods as I talked to him while he was doing it.
“His own physical effort to create that landscape across the road and that needs to be protected for all of us.”
Miller Housing, in a previous statement it had held “positive” talks with councillors about plans for new housing in the Tetbury area.
They added: “Proposals for new, sustainable housing in this part of Gloucestershire have already included positive communication with local councillors, and we will share further information on plans for this land, to engage with the community, in the near future.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
On Wednesday, September 2, it was the Concours judging and private viewings to dominate the agenda for the day.
Twelve Concours classes were held across almost a century of motoring, including The Golden Age of Motoring, 100 Years of Carrrozzeria Touring, La Dolce Vita, 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura and Passione Ferrari.
Two new classes also made their debut for 2026, Rare Breeds of the Digital Age and Hypercar Heaven, which recognise the growing importance of contemporary performance cars within the international collector market.
Judging will take place across Wednesday and Thursday, with the show field bringing together a 70-strong collection of classics, supercars and hypercars from around the world.
Some of the cars include Aa Maserati 8C 3000, Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta, a one-off Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale, a very early Porsche 356 Split Window Coupé, Aston Martin DB3S, Lamborghini Miura P400S, Bizzarrini 5300GT, Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet, Bugatti EB110 Prototype, Aston Martin Valiant Prototype and the extraordinary Bugatti Bolide, one of just 40 produced worldwide.
Helen Pike has decided to step down as Master of Magdalen College School at the end of the 2026/27 academic year, the school in east Oxford announced in March.
MCS is one of the top performing schools in the country, ranking in the top 20 independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026.
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The new academic year will start next week, with Ms Pike preparing for one more year in charge before she hands over to her successor, who will take over in September 2027.
The first female Master at MCS, Ms Pike guided the board of governors to one of the most significant decisions in the school’s history, to become fully co-educational from 2027.
While there has been a co-educational sixth form at the school for 15 years, the school last month announced it will become fully co-educational over the coming decade.
Ms Pike said earlier: “I love MCS, and it is a perennial privilege to lead this remarkable school.
“Being Master of MCS is a brilliant job, and I am declaring my intention early in order to give MCS the very best opportunity to find the right Master for September 2027. I shall continue to do all in my power to further the fortunes of this wonderful school until then.
“I look forward to a new phase in my own professional life, one that builds on all that I have enjoyed and achieved in my career during the past 30 years.
“Having encouraged many cohorts of pupils to take sensible risks and to do something creative and different when the time feels right, I am doing just that.”
During Ms Pike’s tenure, MCS has been recognised as a Top 20 Independent School and South East School of the Year by the Sunday Times and won Independent School of the Year for Social Mobility.
Thanking her in his letter to the school community, chair of governors, Bob Price, said earlier this year: “Helen is an outstanding leader and will go with our sincere gratitude and warm thanks for her exceptional headship.
“She will leave the school in excellent shape for her successor.”
Recruitment for a replacement for Ms Pike is now under way.
Last month, Ms Pike congratulated pupils on their “outstanding success” in this year’s A-Level exams, after more than a quarter of pupils (43) achieved three A*s or more and 25 secured all A*s.
In total, 39 pupils from the 2026 cohort are heading to Oxbridge, while 22 have secured places to study medicine.
As part of the school’s expansion plans, MCS is preparing to build a new Science, Library and Partnerships building.
A spokeswoman said the new building will offer an exciting opportunity to reimagine the senior school site as staff look ahead to full co-education.
She added earlier: “With a vision to create a sector-leading science building in the centre of Oxford, the development will enable us to support an ambitious and forward-looking science curriculum, expanding to the emerging and rapidly advancing areas of robotics, AI and Big Data.”
Holding banners which read ‘For f**k’s sake, just stop oil’, the demonstrators took to the road in Parliament Square at noon today (Wednesday, September 2).
This was as Andy Burnham faced his first Prime Minister’s Questions, and many of the protestors glued themselves to the road.
The group demanded that the UK government stop approving all further oil and gas developments, and sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty to stop oil and gas extraction.
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Just Stop Oil say that the police are expected to arrest all those blocking the road, and that one lane has been left free of glued-on action takers to permit access for emergency vehicles.
Andy Burnham is due to make a decision on whether to allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
Reverend James Crote, a Baptist Minister and grandfather from Chesterton near Bicester, said: “Today is my grandson’s first birthday. I have to take action for the sake of his future.
The 69-year-old added: “The government has been dilly-dallying about whether to say yes or no to the Rosebank oil field but, if we want a future for our children, there is no choice – it has to say ‘no’.
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“I am here as a Christian Minister because the Church has to speak out and demand that the government stops approving further oil and gas developments now. It’s time for us all to say ‘For God’s sake, Just Stop Oil’.”
Data from the Met Office indicates that 2026 was the hottest summer in UK recorded history, beating 2025, which was the previous hottest summer on record.
2026 was also one of the driest summers on record, delivering record-low food harvests.
Climbing temperatures have triggered wildfires across the country, and national fire chiefs said the wildfire risk facing the UK is “like nothing we have seen before”.
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Taking action, grandmother Victoria Ann Lynch-Staunton from Leamington Spa, said: “What is happening is beyond a tragedy.”
The 71-year-old added: “I beg everyone to join Just Stop Oil or governments will continue to prioritise endless growth and corporate profit over billions of lives – yours and your children.
“Wake up and smell the coffin. It is the responsibility of all of us to act now!”
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said today: “We are all Just Stop Oil.
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“Every single person who fears deadly wildfires, devastating droughts, and spiralling food shortages is Just Stop Oil.
“The first duty of government is to keep the public safe – but by greenlighting oil and gas drilling, they endanger our survival while corporates and billionaires laugh their way to the bank.
“Every one of us feels alone and powerless in the face of this insanity, but we know there is massive political and public support for our demand.
“So we’re inviting everyone to join us at an online call on 3rd October 2026 – because it’s when we work together that we are powerful and win.”
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