The seafront properties in Mawgan Porth boast a collection of multi-million pound developments that have become a magnet for the rich and famous. Despite concerns about local residents being priced out, these futuristic designs have been praised by many.
At the centre of this cliff-top spectacle is a five-bedroom eco-home under construction by the Hollywood starlet, following approval to demolish the £1.6M cottage she purchased with her playwright husband Andrew Upton.
New aerial photos also highlight the ‘Californian’ style mansions that now dominate the landscape, replacing traditional homes in what was once dubbed ‘Cornwall’s best kept secret’, nestled between Padstow and Newquay.
The Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings actress is thought to be the first celebrity to invest in property within the village. She has since been joined by action film star Jason Statham, while actress Imogen Stubbs, Fifty Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin and Hollywood actor and food enthusiast Stanley Tucci are also rumoured to have acquired properties there.
However, the influx of A-listers has sparked discontent among locals who feel their idyllic area has been ‘ruined’ and transformed into a ‘construction site’, with property prices soaring to ‘unaffordable levels’.
Locals lament that their village has reportedly been ‘overrun’ by second homeowners, turning it into a desolate scene during the off-season.
A resident recounted an astonishing encounter where her mother was offered £2 million on the spot for the family abode, despite it not being on the market.
This NHS worker, who settled in the locale back in 1987, spoke out about developers snapping up old homes, replacing them with boxy, modern residences.
She revealed: “It has always been a popular holiday destination as it’s between Newquay and Padstow and near a National Trust hotspot.”
The area’s appeal has evidently surged each year, she explained: “The locals have sold up here and the properties have been taken down and there’s modern complex, cube-shaped, Californian-style buildings instead of your 1930s bungalows.”
These trendy structures are fetching prices upwards of a million pounds: “There’s a lot of posh cubed modern buildings. Those properties are now going for over a million.
“You can’t buy a property here for under one million. Not one local can afford to buy anything here.
“We’re near the Scarlet Hotel which attracts a lot of celebrities. There’s a certain clientele.”
Construction thrives due to this transformation: “It’s good for the builders as there’s constant building work going on. There’s a real architectural divide.
“My mum lives on the sand dunes. She’s lived here since 1987 when she bought her bungalow. We’ve lived there ever since.
“And now,” she added, “all the houses around there were knocked down and a posh flat roofed house was built owned by somebody in London.”
Celebrity visits to a picturesque holiday home have made waves, with stars like Chris Martin and Gary Barlow gracing its quarters.
One local disclosed: “He rents them out a lot. There’s a holiday home where the likes of Chris Martin and Gary Barlow have stayed.”
The village faces a conundrum as second homeowners snap up properties, leaving many deserted during off-season months: “All the houses have been bought up by second homeowners. In the winter all the houses are all pretty much empty.”
Residents recognise the economic contribution but lament the loss of local living space: “They do bring money to the village, but at the same time local people can’t live here.”
The community regularly spots celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Noel Gallagher.
Tensions have risen surrounding Cate Blanchett’s residence renovation, with ongoing construction noise rattling neighbours.
Recent snaps capture her property modifications in progress.
Blanchett stirred further discord by planning to convert an adjacent plot into a car access and parking zone, leading villagers to bristle at the potential ‘Hollywood-on-sea’ makeover of their Cornish hamlet.
During the renovations, objections included accusations of blatant insensitivity, reportedly causing vacationers significant distress.
Subsequent to local uproar, last year saw the withdrawal of the contentious land-use application, with alternative proposals yet to be broadcasted.
Among the vehement opponents was Karen Burgess, a holiday let owner who alleged the celebrity duo exhibited a “total disregard” for neighbouring peace during construction works.
Ms Burgess voiced her anxiety: “I am deeply concerned that there has already been a total disregard for the noise that has destroyed the family holidays of all my guests.”
In a robust response to Ms Burgess’s concerns, the architectural firm Watershedd argued that there has been some confusion.
They further explained: “Throughout the whole process of the build on our clients’ property, we have been in regular communication with friendly and accommodating neighbours to ensure that they are aware of works starting, and to alleviate any concerns regarding usual or anticipated construction noise or disturbances.”