Entire Devon seaside village blast ex-Soho House owner's 'absolutely insane' plans to transform seaside estate into 'millionaire's playground' - as he's forced to sell after THOUSANDS of complaints
The seaside village once bought 'on a whim' by a close friend of ex-PM David Cameron to turn into 'Soho House-on-sea' has been snapped up by a pal of Prince William.The 760-acre Bantham estate - which includes a village, several Grade II listed properties, a vineyard, a shop, a golf course and a stretch of South Devon coast including a number of boathouses - has been bought by Harry Aubrey-Fletcher in a £30million deal.Locals this week told MailOnline they were 'deeply sceptical' of the new owner following clashes with his predecessor and urged him to prioritise rebuilding trust with the communityBantham - once named one of Europe's top 10 beaches - has been on the market since last year with a £30million price tag.Nicholas Johnston, the former owner of Soho House, bought the estate for £11.5m in 2014, telling residents he had no development plans but only three years later he unveiled proposals to build 27 new houses, a beach club and subterranean car park.Thousands of outraged locals joined together to create the Save Bantham group which has more than 3,000 members on Facebook.Among them is Nick Cotter, 72, who has lived in the area for 13 years described the previous owner's proposals as 'absolutely insane'.He said: 'What is so special about Bantham is there is no other estuary so undeveloped but with such easy public access - it truly is unique. The seaside village of Bantham has been snapped up has been bought by Harry Aubrey-Fletcher - a pal of Prince William - in a £30million deal The estate had been previously owned by Nicholas Johnston (pictured), a close friend of ex-PM David Cameron, who bought it for £11.5m in 2014. He had planned to build 27 new houses, a beach club and subterranean car park in the village Nick Cotter, 72, who has lived in the area for 13 years described the previous owner's proposals as 'absolutely insane''It's a shame the previous owner came in promising there would be no change.'His shift was from there will be no changes to I'm going to squeeze every penny out of this.'There was an enormous public reaction to the plans but I wouldn't say residents have prevented him getting planning permission - we have done our utmost to help him follow his ethos for the estate which was environmental preservation and access for all.'There are people who felt aggrieved but didn't speak out because there were some farmers who objected to the pheasant shoot and their leases were terminated.He bought the estate in 2014 and initially said he had no plans for development in the area but then revealed proposals to build a beach club which would be sunk into the ground, including a gym, cafe and swimming pool.Johnston suffered a significant setback when a parish plan to ban outsiders from buying second homes won overwhelming support from villagers.And in 2021 he withdrew an application to convert a historical boathouse into a luxury restaurant and cocktail bar following complaints. The 760-acre Bantham estate has now been bought by Harry Aubrey-Fletcher (pictured) in a £30million deal Prince William celebrates Aston Villa's victory in the Champion's League with Harry Aubrey-Fletcher in October 2024 The Bantham Estate (pictured) which includes Bantham Beach, several Grade II listed properties, the village shop, Bigbury Golf Course and several boathouses The seaside estate (pictured) is located in a south Devon area of outstanding beauty Local Nick Cotter outside a local boathouse that sits along the River Avon - which flows into the English Channel Nick said he would be 'delighted' if the new owner preserved the area as a farming estate Discussing his hopes for the new owner, retiree Mr Cotter said: 'This is a farming estate and I would be delighted with the new owners keeping it that way.'Is Harry going to preserve this because it's special to him or is it an asset he is going to develop - I have heard he thinks the estate was being mismanaged.'I think the new owner does intend to manage this properly.'But our message to the new owner is we are going to be deeply sceptical.'Speaking at the time, Mr Johnston said 'we have no plans with Soho House', and said he no longer owns the brand. He said: 'I don't have any great love of second homes at all.'We are fully supportive of the needs of people in our community, their need for housing, of challenges for first time buyers and the best situation for everyone in the community of Bantham.'One of the village's residents said it was 'too political' to discuss the village's owners in public while another said 'there's a lot I'd like to say about how things have been handled.'In the thriving local shop and cafe, which was part of the sale, co-owner Linda Williams said Mr Aubrey-Fletcher had already visited to introduce himself. Bantham was once named one of Europe's top 10 beaches Bantham (pictured) has been on the market since last year with a £30million price tag The Sloop Inn is one of the only drinking spots within the 728-acre seaside estate The Bantham Estate (pictured) is also home to Bantham Beach, which is a popular surfing spot The thriving local shop and cafe - Bantham Village Stores - was also part of the sale The shop's co-owner Linda Williams (pictured) said Mr Aubrey-Fletcher had already visited to introduce himself Linda (pictured) has run the shop for 10 years with her daughterLinda, who has run the shop for 10 years with her daughter said: 'The last owner was a little bit controversial, he was ok with us and we had no major problems with him but I know others felt differently.'The new owner has been in and seems very nice and easy going, I hope he understands it's a community he's bought here and not just a business asset.'This place has such unspoiled beauty and it needs to stay that way.'He has got some work to do to build back trust with the community.'Aubrey-Fletcher – son of Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th baronet – has been friends with the future King since their prep school days at Ludgrove and through Eton.The friendship continued with Aubrey-Fletcher accompanying Wills to Cornwall for a boys' weekend of surfing, shooting trips and skiing in Klosters with Wills and Catherine before their marriage.William was even an usher when Harry married Louise Stourton, eldest daughter of the 24th Lord Stourton, and Aubrey-Fletcher was named as one of Prince Louis's godfathers.He serves as an adviser to William's Duchy of Cornwall.His family firm, Chilton Home Farms, of which his parents are co-directors, said: 'We are pleased to be able to say that the Bantham Estate has been sold to Chilton Home Farms [...] owned by the Aubrey-Fletcher family who have been farming in Buckinghamshire for generations.'The family have visited Bantham for many years and look forward to looking after this very special part of the South Hams.'
