“Stars near deal for 58-acre Oxfordshire estate as residents voice mixed reactions”
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are reportedly in the final stages of buying a sprawling 58-acre estate in the Cotswolds, making them the latest US celebrities to set up home in one of Britain’s most fashionable rural enclaves.
The couple have secured planning permission to build what has been described as a “spectacular rural estate” on the outskirts of Wigginton, Oxfordshire. Designs suggest a mansion featuring seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms overlooking a lake, with the potential value of the completed project tipped to exceed £18m.
Property consultant Owain Jones, who has been involved in the sale, confirmed the land carried a guide price of £7.5m. “Once the estate is complete it will be worth north of £18m,” he said, describing the area as “the Hamptons of the UK.”
The Cotswolds have long attracted high-profile names, with the Beckhams, Ellen DeGeneres and members of the so-called “Chipping Norton set” already ensconced nearby. But news of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s arrival has divided the small community.
Some residents expressed indifference. Gerry Barrago, 77, who lives close to the disused White Swan Inn, said: “I don’t give a flying toss.” He claimed his wife had already spotted the couple shopping in Burford Garden Centre, though she did not initially recognise them.
Others voiced concern that such a high-profile move could disrupt the village’s character. One staff member at the Falkland Arms in Great Tew said she feared the pub might lose its loyal regulars if the area drew the wrong crowd. “We love our local clientele and we don’t want the couple’s arrival to bring in a different sort,” she told The Times.
Younger residents raised worries about affordability. Thomas Winter, 30, warned the influx of big-spending celebrities could make it harder for locals to get on the housing ladder. Referring to US Vice President JD Vance’s recent visit to the Cotswolds, he argued that the “ethos” of the region was shifting under pressure from wealthy outsiders.
Not everyone was critical. Some welcomed the idea of international stars becoming part of village life. One enthusiastic local said they hoped Beyoncé might attend the annual fete.
The couple are believed to have toured the area by helicopter earlier this summer, inspecting properties in Oxfordshire before settling on the Wigginton site. If the purchase goes through, their home will be a short drive from Soho Farmhouse and Estelle Manor, private members’ clubs popular with celebrities, as well as the Daylesford organic farm shop.
Property agents say the attraction is clear. The Cotswolds’ discreet countryside lifestyle combined with proximity to London has made it the countryside destination of choice for the wealthy. “Stars looking to relocate have turned it into the most fashionable countryside to be in,” one buying agent said.
With planning permission secured and negotiations well advanced, the only question now is how the couple’s arrival will reshape the rhythms of life in Wigginton. For some, it heralds glamour and prestige; for others, a creeping sense of displacement.
Either way, the Cotswolds’ status as Britain’s celebrity heartland appears stronger than ever