Sir Jim Ratcliffe wins planning battle for bee farm he built without permission

One of Britain’s wealthiest men has been granted planning permission for a beekeeping facility and other developments at his Hampshire estate despite concerns it will turn the area into an “industrial site”.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chemicals billionaire and part owner of Manchester United, will be allowed to retain two outbuildings and other landscaping and renovation work at Thorns Beach House, near the village of Beaulieu.

The 71-year-old built two huge barns, a tennis court and a pergola without planning permission forcing him to apply for retrospective permission in 2022.

Built bee farm, barns and pergola without permission

Documents submitted to the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) state that the planning permission relates to the retention of two additional ancillary domestic storage buildings.

These buildings were said to be used for storing equipment used to maintain the grounds such as chainsaws and lawnmowers.

The plans also included a tennis court, a pergola and a bee farm that all lay within the curtilage of the house.

Billionaire needed this for home grown produce

In a statement submitted to New Forest National Park Authority, Ratcliffe’s planning agent said: “The applicant places very great value on home-produced garden produce and as part of this he has commenced beekeeping at the site and has established a number of beehives in order to supply himself and his family with honey.

“Whilst beehives are distributed within the surrounding grounds, the beekeeping activities also necessitated the provision of an indoor storage area for the processing of honey and the storage of beekeeping equipment.

“One of the two unauthorised sheds houses a 'bee factory', tractor, soil roller compactor, forklift, wood chipper, Turf Gator, lawn mower, hedge-cutters and leafblowers.”

Local claims plans could turn area into 'industrial site'

Objector Mr J Harrow, from nearby Lymington, said: “Yet more development from an industrialist who seems intent on turning this stretch of the Hampshire coast into an industrial site. And, as we have come to expect from billionaire elites, the belief that he can do what he wants with impunity as he can afford to pay more lawyers and fight local authorities.

“I urge NFNPA to stand up to these wealthy who seem intent on buying small houses and then by hook or by crook massively overdeveloping them.”

Why was planning granted by the council?

Retrospective planning was granted subject to some planning conditions, such as not being used for accommodation.

A planning officer for New Forest National Park Authority stated: "Whilst these works perhaps appear somewhat incongruous in a New Forest setting, they are confined to a small part of the overall site, in a location where they are not visible in the wider landscape and are not uncommon features in some of the other larger properties in the vicinity.

"The paths along the shore frontage are grassed over and although there is a helicopter landing area, this is de-marked by a spiral of small rocks set into the ground, ensuring that the extent of hard surfacing that would be visible from the Solent, which is the most public viewpoint available of the site, would be minimal."

The report added: “The outbuilding is intended to be used for an incidental use and is suited to its residential setting in terms of design, scale, size, height and massing. It is therefore recommended that this application be approved."