David Cameron is turning from politics to gardening after licensing a farm on his country estate

After years of arguing with his neighbors over development projects in his country house, it seems that former British Prime Minister David Cameron, 59 years old, has decided to direct his attention towards agriculture and gardening, after he obtained official approval to create a vast vegetable garden in his luxurious estate in the British Cotswolds, whose value is estimated at about two million pounds, just weeks after he succeeded in obtaining a license to build an outdoor swimming pool that had been the subject of a long dispute with the neighbours.

Cameron and his wife, Samantha (55 years old), intend to transform a neglected part of their garden into a landscaped “kitchen garden,” which includes specialized facilities for growing vegetables and plants.

Planning documents submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council showed that the couple had become more interested in gardening since Cameron had moved away from direct political work. The application stated that the applicants had become increasingly interested in gardening, and wanted to allocate space that would include a greenhouse, as well as storage facilities for agricultural tools and equipment.

The project includes the construction of 10 raised agricultural beds, a greenhouse, and a number of outbuildings, months after the end of the six-year battle to obtain approval to build an outdoor swimming pool on the property.

In 2020, Cameron was forced to withdraw his request to establish the pool, after a number of his wealthy neighbors objected, who expressed their fears that the pool would turn into a center for parties that extend until late at night.

The intensity of the objections reached the point where one resident accused Cameron of trying to turn his home garden into a “cheap resort,” but the vegetable garden project did not face any official objections.

The new approval includes the construction of agricultural beds built with bricks and supported by oak beams, in addition to a new greenhouse, buildings designated for storing tools, a shed for growing plants, and a workshop.

Cameron’s representatives asked planning officials in West Oxfordshire to expedite a decision on the application, stressing that the project would reinvest an isolated and unused part of the park in a practical way.

The documents attached to the application stated that the goal is to improve an unused area of ​​the garden, to use it for growing vegetables and gardening purposes, in a way that enhances the homeowners’ benefit from their property and garden.

West Oxfordshire District Council, which is known for its strictness in urban planning issues, imposed a number of conditions on the project, as an extension of a series of previous planning confrontations waged by Lord Cameron.

Cameron’s closest neighbor, the famous media personality Jeremy Clarkson, stipulated that he adhere to a number of controls before giving his approval for the construction work, including the use of specific building materials that are compatible with the rural character of the area, in addition to starting the work within the time period specified in the license.

Cameron’s agents confirmed that the development plan underwent careful study and was designed to take into account all the restrictions associated with the site, explaining that the project will provide better facilities for caring for the land and growing food and plants, while preserving the historical value of the place, and without harming the natural landscape or the comfort of neighboring residents. This achievement comes just a few weeks after Cameron received final approval to build his outdoor swimming pool, which he had been seeking for years, after he resubmitted the application last December in an amended form aimed at addressing neighbours’ concerns.

According to the approved plan, the pool will be 13.7 meters long, four meters wide, and 1.6 meters deep.

Despite the submission of a new objection warning of the possibility of noisy gatherings, planning officials concluded that the use of the pool would not lead to an unacceptable level of disturbance, given its location within a large, semi-rural plot of land, in addition to being relatively far from neighboring homes.

About “Daily Mail”

---

Wealthy and influential figures

Former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his wife, Samantha, bought their country house in 2001 for 788,000 pounds sterling, while its market value is currently estimated at about 2 million pounds sterling.

The couple are considered among the most prominent members of what is known as the “Chipping Norton Group,” a gathering that includes a number of wealthy and influential figures, including Jeremy Clarkson and other prominent British figures.

Cameron served as Prime Minister of Britain between 2010 and 2016, before returning to the government as Foreign Minister in 2023 following his appointment as a member of the House of Lords.