The new owners of the most expensive plot in Sandbanks have got the green light to demolish an Arts and Crafts mansion to make way for three luxury waterfront homes.
The existing five-bedroom 1930s property, which previously belonged to Body Shop heiress Louise McGlinn, has one of the best and largest plots on Pearce Avenue, an exclusive street next to the Sandbanks peninsula.
Miss McGlinn sold it to property developer tycoon Richard Carr and his company Fortitudo last year and they submitted the plans to replace the harbourside mansion with three luxury £9million homes.
But this sparked outrage with neighbours who claimed it would destroy the character of the street with the ‘identikit’ houses, be crammed onto the plot and destroy their privacy.
The plans received 41 objections and Fortitudo sold the plot to an unnamed buyer that same year for just under £16million, before a planning decision was made.
The local council has now granted permission for the controversial plans but it is unlikely they will ever actually be built – as the current owners have their own grand plans for a mega mansion that will reputedly be worth £20million when complete.
Mr Carr said they had a contractual obligation to see through the planning application, which was approved by committee last week.
He disputed locals’ claims that the proposed houses – two three-storey and one four-storey – would be dominant and overbearing stating there were other properties of a similar height in the exclusive street.
The new owners of the most expensive plot in Sandbanks (pictured) have got the green light to demolish an Arts and Crafts mansion to make way for three luxury waterfront homes
Plans for the three properties (pictured) were submitted by property developer tycoon Richard Carr and his company Fortitudo last year
But the ‘identikit’ houses (pictured) sparked outrage with neighbours who claimed it would destroy the character of the street
Mr Carr said: ‘We’ve worked for 16 months now on this application, and we’ve reduced the size of the house that’s adjacent to the objector’s house.
‘In 2008, there were three properties given planning permission on this site and it’s in keeping with what’s in the road, which has evolved substantially over the last 10-15 years.’
Councillors said the scheme would help meet housing needs, providing housing for three families rather than one.
One neighbour, Simon Moore, told the planning committee he had spoken to the new owners and they plan to submit their own application.
He said: ‘It says the applicant has agreed to pay £270,000 for the off-site delivery of affordable housing and that carries a significant weight.
‘The property was sold recently by Fortitudo so they will not be building out this development and they will not be paying out that £270,000.
‘I have spoken to the new owners and they plan to do a different residential development and a planning application will be submitted separately for that.’
It is believed the owners, from the Home Counties, will submit plans to demolish the existing property and spend about £2million replacing it with one large bespoke mansion.
An aerial shot shows the size of the existing five-bedroom 1930s property, which previously belonged to Body Shop heiress Louise McGlinn
The home became the most expensive plot in the affluent coastal community after selling for £16m last year
The waterfront homes on Poole Harbour are some of the most sought-after retail estate in the world
The mansion (arrowed) near Parkstone Yacht Club
The home, which occupies one of the best plots on the waterfront and has stunning views of Poole Harbour, became the most expensive plot in the affluent coastal community after selling for £16million last year.
The previous price record in the area was £13.5million, paid by entrepreneur Tom Glanfield for a bungalow on a large plot on Sandbanks in 2023.
Known as Britain’s answer to Miami Beach, the affluent coastal community has been one of the most desirable places to live in the UK for more than 20 years, attracting sports stars and television personalities.
In recent years it has attracted celebrities and wealthy business owners including Harry Redknapp, football pundit Graeme Souness and interior designer Celia Sawyer.
In 2000 Sandbanks was named the fourth most expensive place to buy residential property in the world, behind Tokyo, Hong Kong and London.
