The billionaire owner of Soho House said his planned new mansion which neighbours have described as ‘grotesque’ is an example of 'great architecture'.

Ron Burkle's plans for the house in Little Tew have been heavily criticised by locals and opposed by Little Tew parish council.

The house would have six bedrooms, a gun room, lift, entertainment room and wine store, several reception rooms, a butler’s pantry and a domed entrance hall said to be inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

There would be a natural swimming pool, bather’s pavilion in the ‘pleasure ground’ area, stable block and estate manager’s cottage plus a circular lawn that may be a helipad.

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Some 29 objection letters have been submitted on West Oxfordshire District Council's planning portal plus one letter of support from someone who lives 30 miles away.

One objector wrote: “Rather than being a development of “truly outstanding quality”, I believe it to be a proposal of truly outstanding grotesquerie,” she said.

“It would be a travesty for light and sound pollution to be increased by such a massive intrusion on the outskirts of our village.

Ron Burkle is executive chairman of Soho House, which includes Soho Farmhouse (Image: SWNS) “Please reject what would clearly be an inappropriate, non-isolated, habitat-threatening, polluting, un-enhancing and insensitive ‘monstrous carbuncle’.”

Mr Burkle is executive chairman of Soho House, which includes Soho Farmhouse three miles from the site.

He is also behind plans for the Mullin Automotive Museum in nearby Enstone approved last year despite almost 200 objection letters sent to the council.

The planning committee rejected earlier designs for the house in 2022 for failing to represent a "truly outstanding development" and not meeting specific planning criteria.

However, in a 'rare interview' the 71-year-old told the Daily Mail he had an English grandmother on his mother’s side and a Cherokee grandmother on his father’s.

He said: “My English grandmother taught me, ‘if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all’ so I won’t react to comments from people I’ve never met.

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“With a brief amount of homework, anyone would know my passion is great architecture.”

The mogul, who owns six properties including Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch, added: “Where I end up living, I want to be a good neighbour, support local charities and community organisations.”

He also said he is still in the process of buying the land and the current owner had drawn up the plans before he got involved.

He will only proceed to buy it if he gets planning approval.

He told the newspaper: “If it is a buildable site then we would modify the plans to make it something everyone, including the community would be proud of."