The application states the car park is needed for the Countryside Education Trust (CET), which currently uses the grassland site to park about ten cars for its treehouse study centre and event venue. According to the planning documents, access for the trust's audiences is limited, and walking from the National Motor Museum car parks is not ideal for families with buggies, the elderly, or the infirm. The trust hosts a limited number of weddings at the treehouses to fund its educational work.
Residents of Beaulieu have alleged the plans are part of a wider plot to 'commercialise' the grounds, with the car park intended for weddings rather than educational purposes. Local villager Stephen Rigby claimed the estate wants planning permission to change Hides Field so they can eventually alter its use. According to Daily Mail - Home, Rigby described the plan as a 'Trojan horse' using the charity to secure parking space, questioning why it needs to expand from ten to 46 spaces. He also stated there is no evidence the treehouses require additional parking and alleged the parking is for weddings as part of commercialisation efforts. Wealthy residents are fighting to stop the development, hoping the plans will be rejected at an upcoming planning meeting.
The outcome of the planning application remains uncertain, with no confirmed timeline for the decision process. It is also unclear whether the Beaulieu Estate has broader development plans for the area.