Sir Jim Ratcliffe battles New Forest National Park Authority over honey factory at Beaulieu retreat

BILLIONAIRE businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is battling national park planners again – this time over beekeeping activities at his beachfront retreat near Beaulieu.

The majority owner of chemicals giant Ineos has built a honey-making factory in the grounds of his mansion at Thorns Beach without permission from NPA planners.

The seven-acre estate was finally constructed a couple of years ago following a six-year fight with the authority, as reported by the A&T.

Sir Jim has now submitted a retrospective application for the retention of two storage buildings.

Previously, the NPA had raised concerns over the scale of the sheds, pointing out they were not "subservient" to the adjacent Garden Cottage.

But a submission by Sir Jim stated that as the estate "came into functional use" it became apparent that additional storage was needed for honey processing and grounds maintenance equipment.

Sir Jim was said to place "great value" on home-produced honey, and had started beekeeping with a number of hives.

Additional storage was needed for the general upkeep of the home, which was described as a "high maintenance" building.

The application said: "Thorns Beach House has been designed in an overtly decorative manner, with large expanses of exposed timber and glazing in a style which reflects its intended purpose as a high-status beach side summer retreat.

"Whilst this is entirely consistent with the history, context and character of the site, it also means that this exposed coastal property is what could be colloquially referred to as a 'high maintenance' building.

"This in turn generates further and additional requirements for the storage of the equipment and materials which are necessary in order for the property management team to properly maintain the building in a good state of repair."

The plans also seek approval for landscaping and lighting schemes on the site, which the NPA's ecologist has opposed.

Following earlier objections to lighting designs, proposals were amended to reduce "light spill" and lessen the impact on nocturnal species like bats.

But the ecologist argued the application had "neglected rigorous analysis" of the area's designation as a nature conservation site.

"It should be demonstrated that the lighting and other aspects of the application avoid, mitigate and compensate for any impacts and also deliver net benefits for nature," they said.

It was also pointed out that proper assessment of the engineering required to implement the scheme, for example cabling and its potential harm to habitats, had not been conducted.

No comments have yet been made on the plans, which will be determined by the NPA later.