Building works on
Cate Blanchett
‘S Californian-style mansion on the Cornish coastline has ignited decades of discussion and critique among residents.
However, with fresh images showcasing the end stages of the two-year building project for the actress’s five-bedroom eco-friendly home, MailOnline discloses that her neighbour has obtained approval to construct two high-end residences adjacent to hers. The property is now listed for sale at £2.3 million.
The Cornwall Council has approved the plan to tear down the current structure at the location in Mawgan Porth and replace it with two four-bedroom residences.
Despite this, the local authority determined it was in a ‘sensitive location’ because of its closeness to the coast and its high elevation, which allows it to be visible from multiple viewpoints in Mawgan Porth.
These cutting-edge residences feature amenities such as individual saunas and spas, en-suite bedrooms, recreational zones, and extensive balconies providing breathtaking ocean vistas.
They also highlight their environmentally-friendly features including green rooftops designed for sustainability, solar panel installations, geothermal or air-source heat pumps, as well as stones and timbers procured from local sources.
The application faced one local opposition from a nearby resident who stated: “These are two substantial four-bedroom homes.”
‘Therefore, one should presume that the space will fit roughly four pairs of vehicles, which means eight cars will have to be parked on that plot.’
As illustrated, the designs fail to show this extent of parking facilities. In actuality, the green spaces will likely be converted into additional car parks.
The location is quite noticeable due to its slope toward the village. Allowing two such-sized homes would make the area look more like a parking lot, which would negatively impact how the village appears overall.
Chris and Fiona Heritage, who earlier attempted to swap their bungalow for a residence twice as large, were unsuccessful when council members rejected their 2019 proposal.
At age 56, Ms. Blanchett and her spouse, playwright Andrew Upton, who is 59, chose not to make any remarks regarding the submission.
The actress from “The Lord of the Rings” and Mr. Upton purchased and tore down a cottage in the village in 2020 to pave the way for their high-end eco-friendly home.
When they arrived, it triggered an increase in celebrity visits to the town situated several miles down the coast from Newquay.
Celebrities such as David Beckham, Kate Winslet, Noel Gallagher, Jason Statham, and Jamie Dornan have been seen around the village in recent times.
Although movie actors Imogen Stubbs, Jason Momoa, Stanley Tucci, and Rosie Huntington-Whitelaw have all been associated with the region.
However, construction rapidly resulted in strained relationships with the local community, who protested that their idyllic neighborhood was ruined and transformed into a mere building site, all while property prices skyrocketed to unmanageable heights.
Later, Cate applied to convert an extra piece of land into a driveway and parking area for the house, which resulted in allegations of a ‘clear-cut land acquisition’.
Meanwhile, a homeowner with a vacation property alleged that she showed complete disrespect towards her neighbors regarding the refurbishments.
Karen Burgess, owner of a local vacation rental, claimed that ‘noises’ from the construction have ‘ruined’ the getaways for her guests over the last year.
She claimed to have lost £60,000 in rental revenue due to the construction.
Ms Burgess mentioned that she continues to have to advertise her vacation property as being affected by construction noise. However, the architectural firm Watershedd maintains that the noise originates from a different project.
The firm informed Cornwall Live: “It seems she is not talking about our tenants’ property, as there weren’t any loud construction activities during the busy vacation season previously. As before, someone has confused our rental unit with different projects happening in Mawgan Porth.”
Nevertheless, local residents informed MailOnline that the desire to get close to celebrities became so intense that even offers of up to £2 million were made to her mother for their house as passersby stopped by.
NHS employee Kim Emmett, who has resided in the village since 1987,
‘It has consistently been a favored vacation spot because it lies between Newquay and Padstow and close to a National Trust site.’
Each passing year sees an increase in its popularity. The residents here have moved out, and their old homes have been demolished. In their place now stand contemporary complexes featuring cubic, California-inspired structures rather than the traditional 1930s cottages.
‘Lots of upscale contemporary structures have been built around here. These properties currently sell for more than a million dollars. It’s impossible to purchase real estate in this area for less than a million. None of the locals can manage to afford anything available here.’
As a result of the numerous vacation properties, Mawgan Porth transforms into a virtual ghost town during the wintertime.
A resident commented earlier this week: “I have hardly encountered anyone else strolling about; it would feel eerie if we weren’t all accustomed to it.”
During summertime, the place gets incredibly crowded with people; this actually brings the residents who live here all year round closer together. There’s a cozy sense of community, and we do our best to patronize local enterprises. However, experiencing such a dramatic contrast isn’t really ideal.
Former military medic Emma Keelan, 45, who now works as a dog walker lived in Mawgan Porth for almost 20 years but was forced out of the village and into temporary accommodation during Covid when her landlord decided to turn the rental property into a holiday let.
She remarked, “It’s astonishing to see how celebrities and affluent individuals act. When does it stop? Despite purchasing properties at exorbitant prices, they still crave even more.”
If they receive approval for this, what comes afterward? Regular folks are finding it impossible to manage living expenses around here anymore. Just observe during wintertime; the place turns into a virtual ghost town.
When I initially relocated here back in 2002, there were animals feeding on the land atop that cliff. Now, all that remains are large homes that stand mostly vacant throughout much of the year.
I apologize, but this topic really gets me worked up.
Another resident who has lived in Mawgan Porth for 18 years but didn’t want to be named said: ‘The whole situation with that road is a mess. It’s the lorries coming up and down, it’s a never ending building site.
To be frank, it’s quite bleak. Since I arrived, everything has transformed completely. It just isn’t working out, particularly because she only stays here part-time.
None of them reside here permanently, yet it feels like an unending construction zone; this isn’t exactly fair to those who actually call this place home.
Cate definitely supports the community; she and her family attend the surf school, and they are indeed very nice individuals.
‘So, how much additional funding does she require? She received approval for her initial request but now is seeking extra funds.’
It’s bleak, yet I doubt this scenario will cease during our lifetimes.
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