Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett has received planning approval to develop a bat-friendly garden at her cliff-top property in Cornwall. The 57-year-old Australian, alongside her husband, playwright Andrew Upton, was initially granted permission in 2022 to demolish a £1.6 million cottage and replace it with a five-bedroom eco-home.

The couple first submitted applications in January to satisfy conditions related to lighting, landscaping, and window shutters attached to the original planning consent. However, they withdrew their initial proposal after ecological experts expressed concerns that the planned exterior lighting might adversely affect local bat populations, despite no bats being detected on the property.

New designs, incorporating changes to minimize the impact on bats, were submitted in May and subsequently approved by Cornwall Council. The revisions include the use of downward-facing, low-level lighting fixtures that are concealed among shrubs, plants, and boulders. All light fittings will feature environmentally friendly LEDs emitting a warm-white 2700k spectrum, aligning with guidance from the Bat Conservation Trust.

A preliminary survey of the site in November 2020 identified some potential for crevice-roosting bats, but a follow-up survey conducted in May 2021 during the bats’ main active season found no evidence of bat emergence or presence inside the attic. The building was determined to contain no active bat roosts that would be affected by demolition. Nonetheless, the survey acknowledged that bats forage throughout the area, recommending a low lighting regime and ecological enhancements to support local wildlife.

The landscaping plan includes mass planting of species such as olearia bushes, sea thrift, ornamental grasses, and the addition of Cornish boulders to create a suitable habitat. Additional features of the development include hardwood decking adjacent to the new house, a grass driveway, and granite steps leading up to the property.

Representatives for Blanchett and Upton described the landscaping scheme as designed to provide a pleasant environment that complements the architecture. They emphasized efforts to retain as many existing trees as possible along the site’s perimeter to maintain a mature appearance and reduce the visual impact of the new construction on surrounding areas.

Since the couple's arrival in the village, the Cornwall seaside community has gained the nickname “Hollywood-on-Sea,” attracting visits from other high-profile figures such as David Beckham, Kate Winslet, Noel Gallagher, Jason Statham, and Jamie Dornan.