Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett has formally submitted detailed planning applications for a stunning garden and a unique grass driveway at her environmentally conscious clifftop residence in Cornwall. The 56-year-old star is seeking approval from Cornwall Council for extensive landscaping works around her five-bedroom property in the serene coastal village of Mawgan Porth, an area that has earned the nickname 'Hollywood-on-Sea' due to its popularity with numerous celebrities.
Proposed Landscape Design Features
The submitted plans outline a comprehensive vision for the outdoor space surrounding Blanchett's home. The couple, Cate and her playwright husband Andrew Upton, intend to install a grass driveway that will be structurally supported by concrete stabilisation pavers, creating an eco-friendly and visually appealing entrance. Granite steps are proposed to lead visitors through the meticulously planned garden directly to the property, complemented by a decking area positioned to the side of the house.
Extensive Planting and Botanical Elements
The garden design emphasises a rich variety of shrubbery and ornamental features. Plans include the mass planting of olearia bushes, sea thrift, and decorative grasses such as Ampelodesmos mauritanicus. The landscape will also incorporate a deliberate scattering of Cornish boulders to enhance the natural aesthetic, alongside boundary hedges and strategically placed lighting to illuminate the area during evening hours.
Further botanical proposals involve using trailing Muehlenbeckia, a deciduous shrub that can function as a climber or ground cover, to form an evergreen curtain draping along the bank. Ornamental trees, specifically Phillyrea latifolia, are slated for placement near the vehicle access point. Additional hedging with new Olearia Traversii is planned, along with climbers like Lonicera alseuosmoides to grow over balustrading, and more Olearia Traversii to be planted along the front room roof.
Background and Previous Controversies
This latest application follows the completion of Blanchett's five-bedroom eco-home, which was constructed after the couple received planning permission to demolish a £1.6 million cottage they originally purchased on the site. The construction process spanned more than two years and was not without its challenges and disputes.
Local Opposition and Financial Claims
Previous applications related to the property's construction have sparked significant anger among some local residents. Complaints centred on allegations that the picturesque area had been ruined and transformed into a persistent building site, with concerns that property prices were being driven to unaffordable levels. One holiday home owner, Karen Burgess, accused Blanchett of displaying a total disregard for neighbours during the renovations.
Burgess, who operates a nearby holiday let, claimed that construction noise had destroyed the holiday experiences of her guests over the past year. She alleged financial losses amounting to approximately £60,000 in rental revenue directly attributable to the ongoing construction work and associated disruptions.
Environmental Considerations and Protected Species
The demolition of the original cottage on the site encountered an unexpected delay when bat droppings were discovered. This finding necessitated the creation and implementation of a specific plan to help preserve the local bat population. Ecological experts determined that pipistrelle bats used the area as a roosting site during the summer months.
Both the common pipistrelle bat and the brown long-eared bat are classified as protected species under UK and European regulations. Consequently, any demolition of buildings containing a known roost requires a European Protected Species licence issued by Natural England, a process the couple had to navigate before proceeding.
Celebrity Enclave and Context
The seaside village of Mawgan Porth has become a favoured retreat for a host of high-profile figures from the entertainment and sports worlds. Notable celebrities who have frequented the area include football icon David Beckham, actress Kate Winslet, musician Noel Gallagher, actor Jason Statham, and actor Jamie Dornan, contributing to its 'Hollywood-on-Sea' moniker.
Representatives for Cate Blanchett have been approached for comment regarding the latest planning submissions and the historical context of the project. The outcome of the application now rests with Cornwall Council's planning authorities, who will assess the proposals against local guidelines and consider any representations from the community.
