Building works on
Cate Blanchett
His Californian-inspired estate located along the Cornwall coastline has fueled ongoing discussions and criticisms among residents for many years.
However, with recent images showing the conclusion of the two-year construction project for the actress’s five-bedroom eco-friendly home, MailOnline discloses that her neighbor has obtained approval to construct two luxurious 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 personal saunas and spas, en-suite bedrooms, recreational zones, and extensive balconies providing breathtaking ocean vistas.
In addition, they highlight their environmental attributes through features such as sustainable green rooftops, solar panel installations, geothermal or air-source heat pumps, and materials like locally-sourced stones and wood.
The application faced one local opposition from a resident who remarked: “These are two substantial four-bedroom homes.”
Therefore, one should presume that this area can fit the space for four pairs of vehicles, which means eight cars will have to be parked on that plot of land.
As illustrated, the designs do not include this extent of parking facilities. In truth, the green spaces will actually be converted into areas for cars to park.
The location is quite noticeable due to its slope toward the village. Allowing for two such-sized residences would turn the area into something resembling a parking lot, which would negatively impact the view from within the village.
Chris and Fiona Heritage, who previously attempted to swap their bungalow for a dwelling twice as large, were denied approval for their 2019 request by local council members.
At age 56, Ms. Blanchett and her spouse, playwright Andrew Upton, who is 59 years old, chose not to make any comments regarding the submission.
In 2020, an actress from “The Lord of the Rings” and Mr. Upton purchased and tore down a cottage within the village to pave the way for their new high-end eco-friendly residence.
When they arrived, it triggered a surge in celebrity visits to the town situated close to Newquay along the coastline.
Celebrities such as David Beckham, Kate Winslet, Noel Gallagher, Jason Statham, and Jamie Dornan have been seen in the village over the past few years.
Although movie actors Imogen Stubbs, Jason Momoa, Stanley Tucci, and Rosie Huntington-Whitely have all been associated with the region.
However, construction work soon resulted in strained relationships with the local community, as residents complained that their idyllic neighborhood had been “destroyed” and transformed into a “construction zone,” causing property prices to soar 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’.
And a homeowner whose vacation property was affected alleged that she showed complete disrespect towards her neighbors during the renovation process.
Karen Burgess, owner of a local vacation rental, claimed that the ‘noise’ from the construction has ‘ruined’ the vacations of her guests over the last year.
She stated that she had lost approximately £60,000 in rent because of the construction.
Ms. Burgess mentioned that she continues 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 clients’ property, as there were no loud construction activities during the busy vacation season last year. Once more, our clients’ property appears to have been confused with other projects happening in Mawgan Porth.”
Nevertheless, locals previously informed MailOnline that the desire to have an opportunity to mingle with celebrities had escalated to such an extent that even offers of up to £2 million were made to her mother for their house as people walked past.
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 attraction.’
Each passing year has seen an increase in its popularity. Here, local residents have moved out as old homes have been demolished, replaced with contemporary complexes featuring cubic, California-inspired structures rather than the traditional 1930s bungalows.
‘You’ll find many upscale contemporary structures around here. These properties currently sell for more than a million. It’s impossible to purchase real estate in this area for less than one million. None of the locals can afford to buy anything in this location.’
As a result of the numerous second homes, Mawgan Porth transforms into a virtual ghost town during the winter months.
This week, a resident commented, “There have been hardly any people strolling about; it would feel eerie if we weren’t accustomed to this situation.”
‘In summer you can barely move for people, it does bring the year-rounders closer together and there’s a nice little community and we support local businesses as much as we can but having such a stark difference is not ideal.’
Emma Keelan, a 45-year-old former military medic turned dog walker, resided in Mawgan Port for nearly two decades before being displaced due to the pandemic. When her landlord opted to convert her rented home into a vacation rental, she had to leave the village and move into temporary housing instead.
She remarked, “It’s astonishing to see how celebrities and affluent individuals act. When does it stop? They purchase homes at astronomical prices yet seem never satisfied, always wanting more.”
If they grant approval for this, what will come next? Ordinary folks can barely manage to reside here anymore. Just see the situation during winters; it feels like a deserted place.
When I initially arrived in 2002, there were animals feeding on the land atop that cliff; nowadays, all that remains are large homes that stand vacant for much of the year.
I apologize, but this topic makes me extremely emotionally charged.
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’s just not working out, particularly since she isn’t here all year.
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 frequent the surf school, and they are indeed very nice individuals.
‘But how much more do you need? She got permission for what she got but now wants more.
It’s bleak, yet I doubt we’ll witness an end to this scenario within our lifetimes.
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