Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s third-richest man, sparks new row with neighbours over plans for caretaker’s cottage at his £6million holiday home in the New Forest
- Sir Jim, 66, wants to transform derelict tin cottage into three-bedroom property
- It is part of Sir Jim’s Thorns Beach House complex, currently under construction
- He overcame six-year battle against neighbours, officials and conservationists
- Work eventually started last year but his latest proposal is opposed by the EA
- Locals fear that it could make flooding, which is already a problem, even worse
Britain’s third-richest man has sparked another planning row with neighbours over plans for a caretaker’s cottage to maintain his £6million New Forest holiday home.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who made his £18billion fortune from the petrochemicals company Ineos, wants to transform a derelict tin cottage into a three-bedroom ‘property guardian’s residence’ on the Solent coast.
It is part of his Thorns Beach House complex, currently under construction, which will boast a private beach, lake, summer house and four-car garage.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (pictured), who made his £18billion fortune from the petrochemicals company Ineos, wants to transform a derelict tin cottage into a three-bedroom ‘property guardian’s residence’ on the Solent coast
Work eventually started last year but his latest proposal is opposed by the Environment Agency, which said it posed an ‘unacceptable risk to life and property from flooding’
Sir Jim, 66, overcame a six-year battle against neighbours, officials and conservationists over his plans, which were rejected five times.
Work eventually started last year but his latest proposal is 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.
Sir Jim says the cottage is needed as ‘a family residence for a permanent guardian’ to take charge when he is not there.