Coastal Haven Ruined: Celeb Retreats Transform Homes Into Monstrous Eyesores

Residents of a Cornwall village worry they might be pushed out due to rising property prices as more celebrities from Tinseltown transform homes into vacation retreats.

Cate Blanchett and Jason Statham include individuals who own residences in Mawgan Porth, a tranquil ex-fishing community.

This surf location has transformed into an attraction for affluent individuals, who are progressively turning small cottages into vacation retreats and erecting large estates along the slope of the hill.

Even though some entrepreneurs welcome the new arrivals, many residents aren’t pleased with how the picturesque town is transforming.

The Academy Award-winning star from "Lord of the Rings" was thought to be the first famous person to purchase a home in the village.

Imogen Stubbs, an actress from the film "Fifty Shades of Grey" Jamie Dornan , Coldplay frontman Chris Martin Additionally, Hollywood actor and food enthusiast Stanley Tucci is said to have purchased properties in the area as well.

Residents claim that the arrival of big-name stars has "spoiled" the charming village, transforming it into a "construction zone," and driving up prices to an "unbearable extent."

John Bradley, who used to work as a builder, along with his spouse Barbara, aged 77, have been residing in the town for the past 19 years.

He stated: "If you observe the opposite side of the street, out of the seven bungalows, five serve as vacation properties; do you believe we should be content with this situation?"

'A person resided in it for three decades before leaving the country. The new owner purchased it and immediately expressed his desire to remove the current roof and install a different one upon entering. I shared my opinions with him right from the start.'

'Further along the street, there’s a property leased for £7,500. That price seems absurd. It really doesn’t fit in with anything else around here.'

The coastline in Mawgan Porth boasts a string of high-end developments worth millions that have drawn wealthy celebrities.

The core of the cliff-side setting features a sustainable five-bedroom home under construction for the Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett following her approval to demolish the £1.6 million cottage she owned. purchased alongside her playwright spouse Andrew Upton .

Pictures also show other 'Californian' style mansions that have taken over the landscape of traditional homes in what was once called 'Cornwall's best kept secret' that lies between Padstow and Newquay.

Others argue that the village has become overrun with second-home owners, leaving it resembling a ghost town during the winter months.

John, who is 81 years old, has been operating a bed-and-breakfast at his residence for numerous years. However, he expresses opposition to Airbnb establishments, stating that these platforms evade adhering to as many regulatory requirements.

He was concerned that the renovations might establish a precedent for other neighbors to undertake similar changes to their homes, and he also fretted that the council wasn't sufficiently interventionist.

John mentioned, "The sole beneficiaries of these secondary residences are the constructors and landscapers. While they do keep some locals employed, which has its advantages, we've unfortunately seen our sense of community diminish."

I realize that when high-income individuals have funds available, the wisest investment is typically in real estate.

There's absolutely no question; this place is more secure than any other location, and the profits will surpass those from investments made elsewhere.

However, it implies that locations such as these turn into mere hollow shells, which is quite unfortunate.

I hope to witness celebrities increasing their contributions to society.

A local commented, "I believe long-time residents are getting pushed out due to rising costs."

We have a modest little cottage, yet each time someone purchases it, they demolish it and erect something utterly grotesque.

'I believe it's losing its charm due to all the financial influx.'

He mentioned it being empty during winter but also stated: 'It doesn’t bother me much since I enjoy the peace and quiet.'"

It appears wasteful, but around here, things have always been this way. It has a strong vacation-home feel to it.

It feels as though they’re stripping away the charm. I understand that everything needs to be updated, but that’s not why we chose to live here.

He mentioned that one of his neighbors had turned into an Airbnb property, and he estimated that the proportion of long-term residents' homes versus vacation properties stood at roughly fifty-fifty.

He stated: "Many individuals reach our age only to pass away, after which their homes are sold and converted into vacation properties."

He mentioned that the region's prestige lured affluent individuals, consequently making it unaffordable for local residents.

The resident commented, "Individuals are getting pushed out due to pricing. I'm not specifically blaming Cate Blanchett, but it’s people of her stature who contribute to this issue."

'Towards the end of our garden, some construction work is underway. It seems like many wealthy individuals are involved.'

Debbie, a retiree who has lived in the area for over two decades, remarked: "It hasn’t really bothered me. There are plenty of couples and families residing in the more upscale part of town. Should we move, our current house might end up as a vacation property."

The 68-year-old said: 'There aren't many bungalows left now but they were all like this. 'There aren't many places to work here for young people to move in and get jobs.

'The jobs available offer very low wages, making it impossible to buy a home. It’s a beautiful spot provided no further development takes place.'

However, Stuart Kirk, who owns Bettie's general store, stated that Cate Blanchett's circumstances were not exceptional.

He stated, "Due to her status as a celebrity, everyone jumps on it. This occurs in every village throughout Cornwall, with people purchasing homes."

'Numerous homes have been purchased at absurd prices. A former client of ours sold her property for £900,000, and someone immediately acquired it solely to demolish it and construct a new building in its stead.'

It was simply a three-bedroom house.

This issue isn't limited to this region; it's occurring throughout Cornwall.

I'm from around here. I have been running this store since 2003, which marks 21 years now; however, even back then, the house prices were quite steep.

'The reason is the location.'

The individual, who is 53 years old, stated: "From a business perspective, this is an issue. Upon taking over, there were RAF houses which brought consistent traffic through the village. However, nowadays, we continue to serve patrons of various age groups due to residents still living in the area; nonetheless, the overall population makeup has shifted."

An older person could own a home in this area, yet their relatives might choose not to reside here, which means that particular generation and family line would be absent.

However, I believe that housing prices have reached their peak and are beginning to decrease now.

We indeed have a robust community around us. If you visit during an evening in winter, you'll notice many lights still ON.

'It's remarkable how many individuals actually reside up there.'

He mentioned that the show "Playing Nice," featuring James Norton, was shot there, attracting tourists and attention.

He had run into Statham several times, and both Stanley Tucci and his family frequently dropped by the surf shop just to have conversations with everyone.

We take pride in this," Stuart stated. "It’s rather pleasant to be known for it.

I doubt the population will ever disappear completely. I also don’t believe it will eventually turn into a place where the entire village consists only of vacation properties.

However, if these are vacation homes, they’re constantly inhabited. Should you talk to any owners of vacation properties in this area, they will tell you their places are perpetually reserved.

'It's never desolate here; it won’t sit vacant for three months, so we won't turn into a ghost town.'

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