Home Football The plans for a caretaker’s cottage at Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £6 million vacation house in the New Forest have sparked a new argument between the third-richest man in Britain and his neighbors.

The plans for a caretaker’s cottage at Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £6 million vacation house in the New Forest have sparked a new argument between the third-richest man in Britain and his neighbors.

Football — 06/06/2024

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has emerged victorious from an 18-month planning battle, overcoming a dispute with neighbors concerning beehives and a tennis court.Lifetime of Achievement: Sir Jim Ratcliffe | Business Chief UK & Europe

The 71-year-old billionaire, who owns chemical giant Ineos and recently acquired a 25 percent stake in Manchester United, found himself embroiled in accusations of transforming his seven-acre waterside estate in Hampshire’s New Forest into an “industrial site.” Sir Jim constructed two large barns, a tennis court, and a pergola without proper consent.He applied for retrospective planning permission for his property in Hampshire's New Forest

Despite objections, Sir Jim, who recently completed the London Marathon, applied for retrospective planning permission in 2022.

The Red Devils’ supremo has now secured planning approval for developments at his £6 million holiday home, which includes a honey-making facility.The site is currently home to a run down two-bedroom bungalow (pictured) on the two-hectare site at Thorns Beach near Beaulieu, Hampshire, which Sir Jim wants to turn into a cottage for a property guardian

Ranked as Britain’s second wealthiest individual with an estimated fortune of £29 billion, Sir Jim successfully defended his case after a lengthy process. This means he can continue operating his beekeeping operation at the estate near Beaulieu.

Sir Jim’s enthusiasm for beekeeping is outlined in planning documents submitted by his agent. The documents detail his commitment to producing homegrown garden produce, including honey for himself and his family.Construction is underway on the £6million holiday home, pictured, which includes a single-storey house with three bedrooms, a large living space and a summer house

One of the unauthorized sheds houses the “bee factory” along with various equipment, while the other is used for storing gardening tools and machinery.The planning application shows the caretaker's 'cottage' will be a three-bedroom family home

Despite objections citing concerns about industrialization of the area, the plans were approved by the New Forest National Park Authority last week, subject to certain conditions.The property would also have a 50f-foot-wide machine store near the main home

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, often described as Britain’s richest man, grew up in a Manchester council house before acquiring BP’s chemicals division and renaming it Ineos in 1992. His entrepreneurial success has propelled him to the top of the Sunday Times Rich List, and he was knighted in 2018. Ineos, his petrochemical company, employs 17,000 people across 16 countries and sells 60 million tons of petrochemicals annually. Additionally, Sir Jim made headlines in 2019 for purchasing Team Sky, subsequently leading them to victory in the Tour de France with Colombian rider Egan Bernal.