Cate Blanchett scraps plans to build her £5million home in Cornwall after neighbors accused her of ‘ruining the holidays’ with ‘noisy’ renovations

Cate Blanchett has scrapped some building plans at her £5 million (AU$9.6 million) holiday home in Cornwall following backlash from neighbors over “noisy” renovations.

The Australian actress, 55, and her husband Andrew Upton bought and demolished a cottage in Mawgan Porth in 2020 to make way for their eco-friendly four-bedroom home.

He then acquired additional land in hopes of turning it into a driveway and parking lot for the house, leading to accusations of “flagrant land grabbing”.

The extra parking plans have sparked a row with some neighbours, with one accusing her of ‘ruining’ holidays with the ‘noisy’ works in a complaint.

Now, Cate is said to have scrapped plans to turn the field, which is being used as a building complex during renovations, into a new access and parking area.

The Tár actress formally withdrew the extra plans in a letter to Cornwall Council, which gave no reason for the decision, according to The Sun.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cate’s representatives for comment.

Cate’s proposed driveway and parking were designed to give her and her guests access to the hillside behind, saving them having to climb the front steps.

In an earlier statement, her planning agent said: “The proposed re-development of (the house) and its replacement have been driven by a desire to make more efficient use of this unique site and provide sustainable housing which can be enjoyed. by the applicant’s multigenerational family.

“The claimants acquired the land separately and subsequent to the purchase (of the house) specifically to ensure that the land was not developed with housing that might affect the amenity of their new home, which is on a relatively small plot area. compared to others in the area.

“The driveway and parking area have been sensitively designed to minimize visual impact from the surrounding views, helping the wider field to remain a key landscape feature with every attempt to blend access seamlessly into the landscape.

“Within the wider landscape, the proposed access and parking area would not have a significant impact on the landscape and would not result in an unacceptable change to the character of the land.”

The now-withdrawn application infuriated long-term residents, who claimed they were priced out of the area and forced to put up with constant building work.

Karen Burgess, who owns a neighboring vacation rental, claimed the “noise” from construction has “ruined” her guests’ vacations over the past year.

In a complaint lodged with Cornwall Council’s planning portal, she claimed she had lost £60,000 ($125,000) in rental income due to the construction, Cornwall Live reported.

She claimed she needed to advertise her holiday home as affected by construction noise, but architecture firm Watershedd insisted the noise was coming from another development rather than Cate.

In her objection to the plans in January, she said: “I am deeply concerned that there has already been a total disregard for the noise which has ruined the family holidays of all my guests (…) throughout 2023.

“The losses are over £60,000 last year and yet we have to advertise as a property due to the building noise, we thought the work (Blanchett’s property) was finally done and now there is a new demand for work on the ground, this work should NOT be allowed during the holiday season.

“Never in the bay have I ever experienced such blatant disregard for the people who flock here for their vacations and to enjoy the area by residents during the holiday season.”

However, a spokesman for Watershedd – the architecture firm behind Cate’s build – denied the claims and said the noise was coming from other nearby developments.

They told Cornwall Live: “It cannot relate to our customers’ property where there was no noisy work during the peak holiday period last year, again our customers’ property was confused with other work taking place in Mawgan Porth” .

The firm added that it has been in regular communication with neighbors to allay any concerns about construction noise and answer any questions.

When Cate’s three-story home is finished, it will boast an in-ground pool and showers, as well as an area for surfboards and wetsuits.

Downstairs, it will have four bedrooms, including a ‘bunk’ room with a first-floor sitting room, kitchen, dining room, double-sided fireplace, terrace and walled garden.

A sedum green roof will have special boulder features to blend in with the beach below.

The village of Mawgan Porth has been nicknamed ‘Hollywood-on-Sea’ after actors Jason Statham, Jason Momoa and Jamie Dornan took holiday homes there.

Locals are angry at the influx of multi-millionaires and say ‘Cornwall’s best kept secret’ is about to be overtaken by second-hand owners who are knocking down traditional 1930s bungalows to build ‘James Bond-style Lego blocks’ which no one can afford.

Former army doctor Emma Keelan, 45, claimed she was forced out of the village after living there for 20 years. and in temporary accommodation during Covid when her landlord decided to turn the rental property into a holiday rental.

The dog walker said: “It’s unbelievable how all these celebrities and rich people behave. How much is enough? They bought houses for crazy amounts of money, but they just want more and more.

“If I get permission for this, what’s next?” Normal people can’t afford to live here anymore, look how it is in winter, it’s a ghost town.

“When I first moved here in 2002 there were animals grazing in the fields on that cliff, now it’s just big houses that are empty most of the year. I’m sorry, but I’m getting so emotional about this.

Another resident, who has lived in Mawgan Porth for 18 years but did not want to be named, previously said: “The whole situation with that road is a mess. There are trucks coming up and down, it’s an endless construction site.

“It’s pretty grim to be honest. In the time I’ve been here, it’s changed 100%. It’s not on, especially when she doesn’t live here year-round.

“None of them live here full time but it’s a non-stop construction site, it’s not really fair to those who do.

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“Cate supports the community, she and her family go to surf school and they’re actually really good people.

“But how much more do you need?” He got permission for what he got, but now he wants more. It’s grim, but I don’t see this situation ever stopping in our lifetime.

Land Registry records show Cate bought the former cottage for £1.6m in December 2020 and then paid £1.25m a year later for the adjoining land.

Cate also owns a £5million property near Crowborough, East Sussex, where she has also bought land next door – a £1.5million 100-acre farm.