Billionaire Sir Jim's bid for second home at mansion site
MULTI-BILLIONAIRE Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to build a second property in the grounds of his Beaulieu mansion for a “guardian” to watch over the site.
The 66-year-old won permission two years ago for a “next generation” eco-friendly house at Thorns Beach after a drawn-out planning battle with the national park authority, which saw four sets of plans refused.
Sir Jim’s latest application, submitted by PWP Architects, is to replace the current Garden Cottage and a glasshouse near the mansion site with a newer cottage and ancillary outbuildings.
The latter will feature a machine store, sheltered parking, dovecote and detached loggia, and “assist with day-to-day demands” at the site off Thorns Beach Lane and next to Beaulieu River.
The planning agent has argued the current cottage, owned by the Beaulieu Estate and within a walled garden, is “no longer adequate for modern day living”.
Pointing out that it is unoccupied and not listed or within or adjacent to a conservation area, the submission adds: “At the end of the 20th century, the walled garden was used for a garden nursery business and Garden Cottage was occupied.
“The cottage was probably not intended to be permanent and could well have formed part of the local ‘experiment’ known as ‘Tin Town’, where the durability of metal clad houses were tested.”
The new building would feature three bedrooms and open plan living space, with a kitchen and diner, and there would be an emphasis on self-sustainability.
“The proposal seeks to provide sufficient facilities to meet the occupational needs of the client [Sir Jim],” it adds.
Summing up the application, the agent said the proposal provides a “modest and secure accommodation for the site guardian” that seeks to “improve the accessibility and functionality of Thorns Beach” while upholding the “unique aesthetic and ecological qualities of the coastal landscape and walled garden”.
However, the Environment Agency (EA) has lodged an objection. It contends there is an “unacceptable risk to life and property from flooding” and said the threat of “tidal inundation” is “unacceptable”, notwithstanding the mitigation measures proposed.
“The application does not demonstrate that occupants can remain safe for the development’s lifetime when allowances for climate change are taken into consideration,” it added.
The EA stressed it was likely to maintain that stance unless Sir Jim and his planning agents could submit evidence to demonstrate that can be limited.
In its comments, the Beaulieu Estate pointed out it secured planning permission in 2009 to build a replacement cottage at the adjacent orchard but that was abandoned because of flooding issues.
As reported in the A&T, the 2019 Sunday Times rich list claimed Sir Jim’s worth was just over £18bn, which made him Britain’s third wealthiest man.
In addition to his roles as CEO and chairman of INEOS – in which he has a 60% stake – Sir Jim, whose main home is in Monaco, has other business interests, such as ownership of the Lime Wood hotel near Lyndhurst.
He has also recently used his wealth to get involved in endeavours he is passionate about; the keen cyclist set up the bike racing outfit Team INEOS, currently competing in the Tour de France, and is bankrolling sailor Sir Ben Ainslie’s campaign to win the 2021 America’s Cup.
