Beyoncé’s helicopters did not breach planning laws, council confirms

A three-month investigation by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council concluded last Friday. Last year, the Newbury Weekly News broke the story that the international singing star was staying on the estate near the Hampshire/ Berkshire border during the northern European leg of her The Mrs Carter Show world tour.
Villagers had been sworn to secrecy but Beyoncé was spotted at Newbury Retail Park, shopping in Mothercare.Surrounded by bodyguards, she spoke to shoppers and even handed out tickets to fans to her sell-out London concerts.
The singer’s stay on the estate coincided with a flurry of helicopter activity above the village, which triggered a complaint earlier this year to East Woodhay Parish Council, by villager, Rosemary David, of “excessive helicopter traffic” from the estate.
The borough council confirmed that an investigation into breaches of planning permission at the estate had been launched, including change of use to residential without planning permission, and change of use to commercial (helicopter business) without planning permission.
While the land was used for the taking off and landing of helicopters, officers have now confirmed that the case has been closed with no action being taken.
A council statement read: “It has been decided that the temporary use of the land by the helicopters did not constitute a breach of planning control and the case has been closed.”