WITH its turquoise waters, award winning beach and rugged coastline, Mawgan Porth in north Cornwall attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Such is its appeal, it’s become a magnet for A-list celebrities who are choosing to put down roots in cliffside properties overlooking the picturesque cove.
Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, action movie star Jason Statham, Fifty Shades of Grey hunk Jamie Dornan and American chef and actor Stanley Tucci are among the big names said to own second homes there.
It's breeding resentment among residents, who are worried the influx of wealthy part-time residents is driving up property prices - making it unaffordable for locals.
There is also concern the quaint, unspoilt village is under threat from mass development, as the traditional seaside houses and bungalows on the cliff-side overlooking the beach are rapidly being replaced by huge glass-fronted, ultra-modern James Bond-style mansions.
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It's rumoured developers are buying modest houses on large plots for up to £2.5million, then knocking them down and building lavish new properties in their place.
When The Sun visited last week, some residents complained it's turning into "Hollywood-on-sea".
Scaffolder Joel Cooper, who is currently working on an extension to one of the cliffside properties, said tradespeople like him are asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, when they start working on celebrities’ places.
He said: “We do a lot of work around here, mostly on second homes and for a lot of famous people.
"We do a lot of these types of extensions on the properties on the cliffside. I can’t tell you who for, but it is a bit like Hollywood.”
He added that the influx of famous people wanting to own a home in Mawgan Porth creates a regular stream of work for companies like his - TJR Scaffolding.
Midway between Newquay and Padstow, Mawgan Porth is a stone’s throw from Newquay airport and easily commutable by plane from London and Los Angeles.
Cornwall has the largest number of second homes in England, outside of London, and the number continues to rise.
A total of 13,292 properties in Cornwall are classed as second homes, according to new research by Action on Empty Homes.
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The average house price in the area is £319,235, but in Mawgan Porth that figure has trebled. Houses there are sold for an average of £1,226,286, according to property giants Rightmove.
'Ghost town'
There are no official figures about just how many homes in the village are second homes or holiday lets.
But Stuart Kirk, 51, who has run Betty’s News on the seafront for 20 years and also runs Betty’s Surf Shop and the ice-cream shop, estimates it could be as many as 90 per cent.
He said while business is booming in summer, in winter the pretty coastal area becomes "like a ghost town".
“You can notice the effect the large number of second homes and holiday lets have running a business here, although the business relies on a lot of trade from the tourists who visit," he explained.
I’ve seen Chris Martin, who was really nice, but none of the other celebrities. I don’t think they spend much time here
Stuart Kirk, local business owner
“In the summer months when the shop opens early in the morning, there is a steady stream of customers all day.
"By night you can look up the hill to the right of the bay and it’s lit up from people occupying the houses.
“But in the winter when it’s dark in the mornings and evenings, there will only be one or two lights on, and it’s almost like a ghost town.
"I’ve seen Chris Martin, who was really nice, but none of the other celebrities. I don’t think they spend much time here."
Stuart added that the number of second homes and holiday lets are contributing to the increase in local people being priced out of the area, which is eroding the sense of community in Mawgan Porth.
His words echo other residents who fear young people who have grown up there will be forced to move when they get older, especially since the pandemic caused an upsurge in the number of landlords changing their rental properties into holiday lets.
“From a community perspective we still have our loyal customers, and we still have a very good community down here, but it’s smaller as less people can afford homes here," Stuart said.
“Obviously Covid had an impact on people holidaying in the UK, and it sounds awful, but it was the best thing that happened from a business perspective, as we were able to offer home deliveries and sell things like paddling pools to people wanting to keep their kids entertained.
“But less people are holidaying here now so there are a lot of empty homes at times.
We do a lot of work around here, mostly on second homes and for a lot of famous people. We do a lot of these types of extensions on the properties on the cliffside. I can’t tell you who for, but it is a bit like Hollywood
Joel Cooper, local scaffolder
"I own another property which I considered letting out as a holiday home, but decided against it because I’d rather rent to someone who needs a permanent home.
"It generates less money but I decided it was the right thing to do.”
Summer Darwent, 18, works in the surf and ice-cream shops during breaks from university in Cardiff.
She said: “It’s hard enough for young people to buy houses but especially here, because the prices are being pushed up by people wanting to rent or buy second homes here, like the celebrities.
“I can see why celebrities want to live here because it is lovely, but it’s horrible to think I’ll never be able to afford to live here, and very worrying at the same time.”
Fears for future
Car park attendant Rosina Knight lives a short walk from the main stretch of shops in centre of the former medieval settlement, and worries for her daughter Alexis, who is 19.
She said: “I was born and bred here but I worry for the future of my daughter.
"If she wanted to live here, she’d never be able to afford anything either to buy or rent, because the prices have been pushed up so much.
“We also have the problem of wealthy people and celebrities buying these homes on the cliff and wanting them to be much bigger, so they are having them extended right up to the cliff path.”
If my daughter wanted to live here, she’d never be able to afford anything either to buy or rent, because the prices have been pushed up so much
Rosina Knight, local resident
Nick Bennett runs The Merrymoor Inn, which has been in his family for 62 years, and echoes Rosina's sentiments.
"People can live where they want," he said. "But the trend right now is to buy a house and garden and stick a massive house on the whole footprint.
"My own parents used to have neighbours they knew on either side of them.
"Now they have holiday homes on either side. Some of the locals feel they are being priced out and pushed out of the village."
Star appeal
But not everyone in Mawgan Porth has the same opinion.
Sandi Purdy works at village store Cornish Fresh and thinks people who can afford a second home there should be able to buy one.
“I think people are just jealous of second homeowners. If you can afford to buy one, why shouldn’t you?" she argued.
“I don’t think it’s an issue. We’re busy here from March to October, so it’s only three months that they’re vacant.
“It’s a shame people can’t appreciate that people work hard for their money and if they want to invest in a second property, they should be able to.
"People invest for a multitude of reasons. Maybe they just want another income or maybe they want to retire here.
I think people are just jealous of second homeowners. If you can afford to buy one, why shouldn’t you?
Sandi Purdy, local resident
"Others will say it makes homes unaffordable, but they’re affordable to someone.
“We see celebrities all the time in the village, but nobody bothers them, so that’s probably part of the appeal.”
Husband and wife Amit and Sophie Patel, from Wiltshire, were enjoying soaking up the sun on the beach.
Salesman Amit said: “This is the fourth time we’ve been to Mawgan Porth, and we love it because the beach is dog-friendly and it’s a beautiful spot to relax in.
“It’s no surprise there are so many people wanting second homes here because it’s such a lovely place, but even holiday lets are becoming less affordable.
“Four years ago, at a similar time of year, the same three-bedroom lodge cost £600 for a week. Now it rents for £1,100.”
Independent estate agent Nikki Davies said: “Without question, when a celebrity or high profile individual chooses to purchase a home in an area it can enhance its reputation and prestige. People may perceive having famous neighbours to be a symbol of their own status and success. And where demand is increased, prices will inevitably rise.
“Nowadays celebrities seem to have an even greater influence with social media showcasing their lives in glossy detail and their choice of location can in turn attract buyers who want to emulate that lifestyle - further contributing to demand.
“Of course, increased demand and rising prices can lead to long term residents of these areas finding themselves unable to afford the increased costs of living and housing and those hoping to buy in the area for the first time will often find themselves priced out completely.
“It's a complex issue, having seen first hand the impact on a community where the number of second homes means these towns and villages often become ghost towns out of season with a negative impact on local businesses and the economy.”
Cllr Olly Monk, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for housing and planning, told The Sun: "Providing housing for our residents is a top priority.
"We understand the difficulties faced by those struggling to find somewhere settled to live as Cornwall continues to experience extreme and unprecedented pressures on housing.
"The lack of decent affordable housing was brought to a head in the aftermath of the pandemic.
"The boom in house prices and the demand for holiday accommodation brought about a significant reduction in the availability of homes to rent and a matched sudden escalation in rental costs.
"Private landlords moved away from long-term letting and towards the short-term holiday market.
"The Council has agreed to adopt a policy to charge double council tax on second homes which could be worth up to an additional £25million in revenue for the authority each year.
"We’re also committed to working with the government on any additional national changes taken forward to tackle the issue of second homes and to develop practical and sustainable solutions to manage the impact of tourism on the housing market whilst transforming the visitor economy."
