Bantham, Devon, sold after plans to transform it into a luxury destination failed. Concerns over development fueled local opposition.
The estate spans 728 acres and has a beach, listed buildings, a shop, and a golf course. Nicholas Johnston bought it in 2014 for £11.5M. One family had owned it for over 100 years.
The estate announced the sale, revealing that Chilton Home Farms bought Bantham. The Aubrey-Fletcher family owns the farm and has farmed in Buckinghamshire for generations.
The family likes visiting Bantham and has pledged to care for the area. Locals campaigned after Johnston’s purchase, fearing a private member’s club. Johnston’s plans worried residents, and protesters voted on a second homes ban, covering new properties only.
The debate centered on Johnston’s plans, which included 27 homes. Thirteen would be for sale, six would be self-catering apartments, and eight would be rented houses.
Johnston claimed he’d do sensitive development and proposed an underground beach club and a boat repair yard. An underground parking was also in his plans. People feared Bantham would become like Soho House, a club for the rich.
Save Bantham opposed the developments, gaining over 12,000 followers online, though only 694 people could vote. People from all over enjoy Bantham, which was once a top beach in Europe.
A spokesman said the coast is precious and building ruins it forever. He holds pheasant shoots there, with buggies and boats carrying the shooting parties. His proposal seemed like a playground.
The area is a protected coastline. Johnston said the council asked for plans and denied having Soho House ambitions, stating he no longer owned that brand. Johnston stated that he dislikes second homes.
He wanted a mix of homes instead, which he said would benefit everyone. A community, he argued, should attract all people, and he supported the community’s needs, especially housing for first-time buyers.
The council rejected a beach shower plan, a sewage plant plan, and a car park and ANPR system. The estate appealed but lost.
Locals opposed a boathouse conversion, which was built for King George VI, into a holiday let. Plans to make it a restaurant failed, though wine storage permission passed later. Car park barriers also failed in 2015.