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Cate Blanchett wins year-long battle over £5m Sussex estate despite council war

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Officials at the local council raised fears about the height of the proposed bank and its
Officials at the local council raised fears about the height of the proposed bank and its 'visual prominence'.

CATE Blanchett has won a year-long battle with planners to build a bank of solar panels to power her £5million Victorian mansion despite fears for great crested newts.

The Lord of the Rings star, 54, wanted to build an array of 90 photovoltaic panels in a field in the grounds of her remote and secluded 13-acre Sussex estate.

Cate Blanchett has won a year-long battle over her £5m Sussex estate qhiqquiquidquprw
Cate Blanchett has won a year-long battle over her £5m Sussex estateCredit: Getty

But officials at the local council raised fears about the height of the proposed bank and its 'visual prominence' in the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

There were also concerns for great crested newts as the proposed site lies within an 'amber impact zone' for the protected species.

Oscar-winning actress Blanchett and playwright husband Andrew Upton submitted revised plans for the solar array, reducing the height and moving it into the garden instead of an agricultural field.

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Officials at Wealden District Council last night (Thursday) gave the green plans the go-ahead after there were no objections from neighbours.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb, harm or kill great crested newts, or damage, destroy or obstruct their breeding and resting places.

A solid screen will also be built to act as a sound barrier for five air source heat pumps following a noise impact assessment.

Blanchett's seven-bedroom Victorian villa boasts an outdoor swimming pool and garden office complete with a meditation room.

She is the latest celebrity to boost her eco credentials at home after fashion designer Stella McCartney was given the go-ahead for 380 panels at her Worcestershire farm.

TV cook Delia Smith also added another 20 to her bank of 24 at her 18th Century cottage in Suffolk.

In a design statement, Blanchett's planning agent said: 'The panels will generate sustainable energy supply to the main house and outbuildings on the site.

'Overall, the proposal represents a small-scale renewable energy system that would contribute to the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions.'

In 2010, Blanchett launched the solar-powered Sydney Theatre Company - an array of 1,906 solar panels on the roof of The Wharf in Sydney Harbour.

The rooftop solar power system was the second largest in Australia and produced enough energy to power 46 average homes.

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In separate plans, villagers have slammed Blanchett for noisy drilling and banging by builders working on her new build mansion in Mawgan Porth near Newquay in Cornwall.

It has been dubbed Hollywood-on-Sea after actors Jason Statham, Jason Momoa and Jamie Dornan were reported to have bought holiday homes there.

She wanted to build 90 photovoltaic panels in the grounds of her property
She wanted to build 90 photovoltaic panels in the grounds of her propertyCredit: Splash
Cate is pictured in 2015's Carol
Cate is pictured in 2015's CarolCredit: Alamy

Issy Sampson

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