U.S. SUPERSTARS

SET TO HAVE A HOME IN COTSWOLDS

- BY SASKIA ROWLANDS

US superstar singer Beyonce and rapper husband Jay-Z are said to be in the process of buying a plot of land in the Cotswolds.

The 58 acres, with planning permission to build a lavish country retreat, has been sold off-market with a guide price of £8.5million. It is unclear how much has been agreed for the site.

The farmland also comes with permission for a lake.

A source close to the sale said: "They were in negotiation on the price and it isn't on the market any more, which would suggest it's a done deal."

A brochure about the site talks of an "opportunity to create a spectacular rural estate with planning granted for a significant home, set within 58 acres".

The document says the proposed seven-bedroom house, illustrated with the use of computerised images, would provide "seamless indoor-outdoor living, combining timeless materials with contemporary architecture".

The brochure adds: "Meticulously designed to integrate with the natural landscape, the property offers a striking architectural statement."

It is five minutes from chocolate box Oxfordshire village Great Tew, close to homes owned by music boss Simon Cowell, ex-England football captain David Beckham and US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.