Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe locked in battle with neighbours

Fracking and chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Britain’s richest man is embroiled in a war with neighbours over plans to build a luxury summer house at his £6 million holiday home – despite moving to Monaco.

Fracking and chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is worth some £18.2billion, has submitted plans for the property in the garden of his home in Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire.  

The magnate behind the Ineos petrochemicals company has also submitted plans for a second time to turn a derelict ‘tin cottage’ into a three-bedroom home for a property guardian. 

It will form part of his sprawling Thorns Beach House complex, currently under construction, which will boast a private beach, lake, summer house and four-car garage. 

But neighbours have opposed plans for the summer house, which they argue will ‘stick out like a sore thumb’. 

The Summer House will form part of his sprawling Thorns Beach House complex, which is currently under construction

The Summer House will form part of his sprawling Thorns Beach House complex, which is currently under construction

The magnate behind the Ineos petrochemicals company has also submitted plans for a second time to turn a derelict 'tin cottage' (pictured) into a three-bedroom home for a property guardian

The magnate behind the Ineos petrochemicals company has also submitted plans for a second time to turn a derelict ‘tin cottage’ (pictured) into a three-bedroom home for a property guardian

These graphics show the plans for the summer house on Sir Jim's grounds in the New Forest

These graphics show the plans for the summer house on Sir Jim’s grounds in the New Forest

Sir Jim, 67, overcame a six-year battle against neighbours, officials and conservationists over his plans, which were rejected five times.

Work eventually started last year but he was forced to take a u-turn on his proposal for the ‘tin house’ over the summer after it was opposed by the Environment Agency, which said it posed an ‘unacceptable risk to life and property from flooding’.

Locals fear that it could make the flooding, which is already a problem, even worse.

More than 40 neighbours objected to the initial plans including Mary Montagu-Scott, daughter of the third Baron Montagu of Beaulieu who said that the development would ‘change the character of an unspoilt area’.  

The summer house will be made from oak and cedar shingles and put on a raised platform on wooden posts to protect it from flooding. 

One neighbour in Beaulieu in the New Forest, said: ‘I have lived in the area for many years and these plans will not fit in with the local landscape.

‘This area is a protected National Park and this summer house would stick out like a sore thumb.

‘This area is also extremely vulnerable to flooding, especially with the changes from climate change. Consequently they need to be turned down straight away.’

The billionaire (pictured with Jean Pierre Rivere, president of OGC Nice) looks set to add to his growing sports portfolio after having a £90million-plus bid to buy Nice accepted by the Ligue 1 club

The billionaire (pictured with Jean Pierre Rivere, president of OGC Nice) looks set to add to his growing sports portfolio after having a £90million-plus bid to buy Nice accepted by the Ligue 1 club

The summer house will be made from oak and cedar shingles and put on a raised platform on wooden posts to protect it from flooding

The summer house will be made from oak and cedar shingles and put on a raised platform on wooden posts to protect it from flooding

Sir Jim increased his wealth by more than £15billion in 2017 to catapult him to the top of the Sunday times Rich List.

The billionaire, knighted in 2018, looks set to add to his growing sports portfolio after having a £90million-plus bid to buy Nice accepted by the Ligue 1 club.

Sir Jim bought Swiss football team Lausanne in 2017, invested £110million in a British challenge for the America’s Cup with Sir Ben Ainslie last year and then bought cycling’s Team Sky to rebrand them as Team Ineos in January.

The vocal Brexiteer relocated to Monaco in February in a move which is estimated to save him and two senior associates up to £4billion in tax. 

He is now said to be in talks to buy Chelsea FC after he approached Roman Abramovich to buy the football club.

Planning documents submitted by Ratcliffe’s planning agent, read: ‘An ideal spot for relaxation, the isolated setting and scenic views are key qualities to the design of the summer house.

‘The semi-open spaces intend to encourage occupants to enjoy the advantages of the great outdoors and living in the New Forest National Park, an area renowned for its picturesque countryside.

‘Lifting the building floor height addresses the site’s susceptibility to rising flood levels as a result of climate change.’ 

The guardian’s residence, meanwhile, would have two further subsidiary buildings, a 50ft-wide machine store, and a dovecote. 

It will also include an open plan kitchen and dining area, two bathrooms, a lounge area and a cloakroom which forms part of his New Forest House complex which includes a private beach, lake, summer house and four-car garage. 

Sir Jim says he wants to ‘provide a family residence for a permanent guardian who will be responsible for tending to the site and neighbouring Thorns Beach House.’  

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