Home / Lifestyle / Blanchett's Eco-Home Garden Gets Green Light
Blanchett's Eco-Home Garden Gets Green Light
7 Nov
Summary
- Oscar winner Cate Blanchett's landscaping for Cornwall home approved.
- Approved plans include grass driveway, granite steps, and local plants.
- Revised outdoor lighting now bat-friendly after ecological concerns.
Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett has secured approval for landscaping and outdoor features at her £1.6 million Cornwall property in Mawgan Porth. The approved plans, issued on July 14, 2026, include a grass driveway, hardwood decking, Cornish granite steps, and the planting of local trees and ornamental plants. These details pertain to conditions attached to original planning permission granted in September 2022 for her five-bedroom eco-home, Bob Tails.
Key environmental concerns focused on outdoor lighting potentially disturbing bats. Ecological assessments identified bats foraging on the site, leading to revised lighting plans in May 2026. The updated arrangements utilize warm-white LED lighting, adhering to Bat Conservation Trust guidance to minimize impact on wildlife. This addresses initial objections regarding fixtures that could disrupt bat activity.
The property's development has faced neighbourly criticism since Blanchett and her husband purchased the cottage for £1.6 million in 2020. Complaints have previously arisen over construction disruption and a separate, withdrawn proposal for an adjoining meadow. The area, known as "Hollywood-on-Sea," has attracted other celebrities, including Stanley Tucci and Jason Statham.
