In a quaint Cotswolds village renowned for its picturesque charm, a Turkish couple has ignited a new wave of controversy with their ambitious renovation plans. Metin and Gulbin Dener, owners of a historic property on a street often hailed as ‘England’s prettiest,’ have stirred discontent among their neighbors, who had hoped that the seemingly endless construction was nearing completion.
The Deners’ residence, a Grade-II listed building nestled among the chocolate-box cottages of Bibury, has become the epicenter of a local uproar. In a neighborhood where homes average around £1.5 million, the ongoing renovations—believed to have cost hundreds of thousands—are being criticized as acts of ‘cultural vandalism.’
Adding to the tension, the couple has revealed plans for further modifications, including a ‘huge’ outdoor fireplace and an underground car park. These proposals have elicited a stream of objections from the community, concerned about the potential impact on the area’s historic aesthetic.
The application, described as ‘part retrospective,’ is currently under review by the Cotswold District Council, which must balance the Deners’ ambitions with the preservation of Bibury’s unique character. As deliberations continue, the village holds its breath, keenly aware of the cultural and financial stakes involved.
To add insult to injury, it has emerged Mr and Mrs Dener are now looking to add a ‘huge’ outdoor fireplace to their precious cottage, as well as an underground car park.
Objections have rolled in on a ‘part retrospective’ application, with bosses at Cotswold District Council currently considering its approval.
Opposing the plans for the cottage Bibury Parish Council said: ‘The fireplace is huge, not in keeping with its surroundings, especially as curtilage on a very important Grade 2 historic cottage.
‘The whole area is recognised as an area of national importance and special character.
Metin Dener and his wife Gulbin are behind the controversial developments in the Cotswolds village of Bibury. The pair are pictured here together
The couple own a Grade-II listed property on a street filled with chocolate-box cottages where average house prices sit at £1.5million. The quaint village of Bibury is pictured
Local residents living on the street also expressed outrage this week about the ongoing development. Construction work at the sight is pictured
‘From various angles the chimney can be seen and changes the historic view.’
The parish council said the outdoor fireplace had been built ‘in contrary position’ to the local plan.
It added: ‘The parish council have serious concerns about the care and competency of the site advisors / architects allowing such construction to take place on this historically sensitive site without seeking planning permission.
‘We again request the planning officer monitor the site more regularly, as a whole site rather than individual projects.’
Local residents living on the street also expressed outrage this week about the ongoing development.
One said: ‘Nobody’s very happy about it. There’s somebody actually living there now.
‘It will be three years in July. It was a tiny Cotswolds cottage and now look. It’s become a monstrosity.
‘Hopefully there’s not more building work to come but they don’t seem to be stopping. We have said everything there is to say.’
Multiple previous applications have been submitted over the years for the cottage that included stripping and replacing the Cotswold stone slate roof tiles as well as adding insulation to a utility room.
Applications were also submitted for an oak conservatory and stone summerhouse that were withdrawn in January.
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Gulbin is seen posing in front of the homes on what is considered Britain’s prettiest street, years before the cottage’s purchase
Many local residents said they were ‘horrified’ by the damage that has been done
Locals have previously stated that the works, which have been carried out since 2023, have caused constant noise and disruption.
Trucks that service the site churn up the verges and block their gates, they claimed.
Many local residents said they were ‘horrified’ by the damage that has been done.
In the latest application, the Turkish couple hit back at claims it had ‘overdeveloped the site.’
Their representatives said: ‘All the previously approved and underway works have currently only resulted in a 1.2sqm increase to the footprint of the residential property and the replacement of an existing above ground garage with an underground garage.
‘All other works have been repairs to existing retaining walls and landscape works related to the removal and repair of failing walls on site. It is certainly not the case that the site has been “overdeveloped”.’
They went on to say that over the past 2-3 years there had been building works undertaken on the site and ‘considerable works to the mains drainage’ causing road closures which had caused local inconvenience and disturbance.
‘Due to the narrow access road and high level of tourists in the village the works on this site have had to progress at a slow pace as vehicle access has been relatively limited compared to most building sites and works on a steeply sloping site are complex.
‘The contractors on this site have tried to inform residents of deliveries and material removals where possible, however communication has not always been possible to be maintained.
A ‘bizarre’ palm tree was also added to the front garden – covered in Christmas decorations
Gulbin posing in front of the homes with her small dog who dons a blue coat
‘The client and contractors understand this causes frustration however how construction is undertaken is not something that is under the control of the current planning system,’ they said.
Plans for the cottage earlier this year had included stripping and replacing traditional Cotswold stone slate roof tiles, as well as adding insulation to a utility room.
A ‘bizarre’ palm tree was also added to the front garden – covered in Christmas decorations.
In addition, previous plans included proposals for an underground garage at the site, which locals said had been built.
Neighbours have complained of the works making their lives ‘sheer hell’ with constant noise, disruption and traffic issues.
Even tourists, who flock to picturesque Bibury from India, Japan and China believe the renovation is ‘ruining’ the picturesque street.
The couple were previously said to be living outside of the UK while their house was transformed, with neighbours claiming they had not been seen in the area for some time.
They bought the cottage for £1.1million in 2022 and works have been ongoing since 2023.
Photos posted by Gulbin on social media show the pair enjoying time in the quaint village years prior to purchasing the cottage.
Gulbin can be seen posing on several occasions in front of a viewpoint on what is widely considered the ‘prettiest street in England’.
In one photo, Metin, sporting a sleek black suit sits beside Gulbin, dressed in a white dress and laced pillbox hat, at London’s five-star Savoy Hotel
In one Facebook post, she comments to her friend: ‘I can’t tell you how much I love this place.’
In a picture from 2017, Gulbin, who comes from the Turkish city of Izmir, is smiling outside a home while walking her dog, while another snap shows her walking down a street in the village with a heart-shaped umbrella.
Photos also show Metin on country walks in the Cotswolds with their dog sat in a holdall on his back.
The couple also enjoy spending time in London, visiting high-end locations including the Aqua Shard, where the couple posed for a photo with stunning night-time views of Tower Bridge in the background.
In another photo, Metin, sporting a sleek black suit sits beside Gulbin, dressed in a white dress and laced pillbox hat, at London’s five-star Savoy Hotel.
Shortly after the purchase of their grade-II listed cottage in 2022, renovation works began.
And they remain ongoing to this day – as do complaints from neighbours they have made their lives an ‘absolute nightmare’.
