Kate Winslet's bid to save beachside home will hit local wildlife say nature experts

Up to 150 killed in al-Shabaab Easter week massacre: Islamist terrorists single out Christians for beheading at Kenyan college
Two women who 'joined ISIS' and referred to themselves as 'real bad b****es' considered targeting slain NYPD officer's funeral as they are arrested for attempt to build and detonate bomb
Muslims to outnumber Christians worldwide by 2070: Islam will be only major religion to increase faster than world's population
Crack-smoking former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford must undergo major surgery to remove cancerous tumor from his abdomen
Climbdown on the 'gay discrimination' laws: Arkansas and Indiana both prepare new versions in bid to end furor over religious protection measures
Obama says 'historic' international pact will 'cut off every pathway' to a nuclear Iran but warns that 'our work is not yet done' because an agreement hasn't been laid out on paper
From rags to riches: Former factory girl now worth $7 BILLION is named China's richest woman after her company that makes glass for your iPhone goes public
Apple's first experiment with a watch was an iPhone with a velcro strap: Firm reveals how the project started - as analysts predict it will sell a MILLION in first weekend
Could implants give humans superpowers? Brain hack lets rats feel geomagnetic signals - and it may help the blind 'see'
Andreas Lubitz researched suicide methods and cockpit door security before crashing plane - and shouldn't even have been DRIVING on depression pills
Hooray! You CAN eat fast food after exercise: Burgers and chips are just as good as supplements for workout recovery, study claims
Bentley executive calls Ford's new Lincoln Continental a 'copy' of his $200,000 car on Facebook as two auto giants trade barbs
Murdered newlywed lawyer who was 'stabbed to death and robbed by female military school grad had solicited her on Craigslist for gay sex, thinking she was a man'
US Army to lift ban on arm and leg tattoos...but vulgar, racist or any ink visible while in uniform will still be prohibited
Disney to make live-action version of Winnie-the-Pooh with young indie director at the helm
'There's no question he did it': Harvey Weinstein 'did not deny groping Italian model in phone sting set up by police'
'There are better ways of wasting your tax dollars': Canadian doctor slams Pizza Hut for policy requiring a sick note for ONE day off in scathing letter
'Let's hope I don't get punched': Girl attempts to kiss random strangers in Grand Central Station - and captures the whole thing on camera
'King of Instagram' and gun-lover Dan Bilzerian releases public information film on responsible firearm use as part of deal to avoid jail after bomb-making charge... but his lack of enthusiasm is palpable
Boy, 10, jumped to his death at school because chess opponent failed to say 'checkmate' after beating him
It's important to un-wind: Kim brings back North Korea's 'pleasure troupe' of young women to entertain him
Putin threatens nuclear war: Russian leader will take any necessary step to drive Nato out of Baltics and defend Crimea
Nurse faces felony charges after 'driving half a mile until she reached street lights before stopping for cop who pulled her over on dark rural road'
EXCLUSIVE: Syrian girl who broke millions of hearts in 'surrender' picture fled to 'safe' city - only for it to be taken by brutal Al Qaeda fanatics days later

Kate Winslet submitted application for a sea wall along West Sussex coast
She wants to build a 550ft-long sea wall to protect her home from flooding
But Natural England has raised concerns about environmental impact
It recommended Chichester Council refuse the planning application because of concerns wall could destroy habitat for rare birds and wetlands

Published: 11:28 EST, 2 April 2015 | Updated: 13:31 EST, 2 April 2015

View
comments

Kate Winslet faces a planning battle with Natural England over plans to build sea defences

Kate Winslet is to face a battle with Natural England over plans to build a 550ft-long wall to protect her £3.25 million beachside home from flooding and erosion.

The multi BAFTA-winning actress, 39, wants to install a boulder and gravel seawall along the West Sussex coast to protect her property.

But Natural England has recommended the planning application be refused - citing concerns it may result in the 'direct loss' of natural habitat designated for rare and vulnerable birds, trees and wetlands.

The Academy Award-winning actress bought the eight bedroom house near Chichester, West Sussex in 2013. She lives there with her husband, Richard Branson's nephew Ned Rocknroll, and her three children.

But the environmental body has recommended Chichester District Council reject the application because of concerns over the impact it will have on the natural habitat.

It is also unclear what effect the sea wall would have on a public footpath that runs along the bottom of the estate by the seashore. The shoreline is currently unprotected.

The actress' Grade II-listed home backs onto a site that is a designated special protection area to safeguard wildlife living along the coast. Wildlife in and around West Wittering beach include waders, geese, ducks, herons, terns and cormorants.

It is also in a 'Ramsar site', according to Natural England - which are protected under Government policy as 'proposed or listed wetlands of international importance.'

The application is one of a number of requests previously submitted to the council for extensive renovation work at the house including the building of an underground swimming pool, garage and pool house.

The planning document states: 'The proposed privately funded sea defences will ensure that the existing vegetation and public footpath will be protected into the future.

'Furthermore it should be considered that the footpath is liable to become dangerous in areas without protection from further erosion of the existing banks.'

A spokesman for Natural England said: 'Our objection centres on the fact that the application site falls within land which is protected as a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Ramsar and Site of Special Scientific Interest.

'The proposal would result in direct loss of protected habitat and would be likely to have a significant, adverse effect on these designated sites.

Winslet wants to build a sea wall along the West Sussex coast to protect her £3.25million beach house

Plans submitted to Chichester District Council show the proposed sea wall to protect Winslet's property

'The application did not include any information to address the likely impacts and no mitigation was proposed.

'We will continue to liaise with the applicant about alternatives which would avoid loss of designated habitat.'

The Chichester Harbour Conservancy has also submitted comments on the application and said it is concerned about the impact of a sea wall on the appearance of the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Concerns have also been raised about potential erosion of a coastal path that could be caused by the defence

In a letter it said: 'We remain unconvinced of the need for this sea defence, and that its impacts on the landscape and nature conservation interests of the AONB would be acceptable.'

The Conservancy has also recommended the application be refused.

This is not the first time the actress has come across problems with planning applications. Winslet previously owned a £2 million home in Treyford, near Chichester. But she sold the 15th century property in 2014 following another planning spat with locals after she proposed to install gates at the entrance.

The council has set aside more time for the planning application to be explored further. No date has been set for a decision.