Millionaire supermarket boss loses legal battle to cut down protected trees at £2.5m beauty spot home… meaning he will still have to drive two miles to his stables rather than walk
- Supermarket shop baron Chris Kiley, 68, wanted to create shortcut to stables to save himself two-mile drive
- He claimed 12 trees would be felled at £2.5m home that overlooks Caswell Bay on the Gower in South Wales
- Planners told 98-metre track would link home with small-holding on land where he keeps horses and stables
- However Welsh Government inspectors have now rejected his appeal after more than 150 public objections
- Mr Kiley had previously fallen out with locals by intending to demolish the house to build a modern home
A millionaire has lost a battle to cut down protected trees at his beauty spot home – to save himself a two-mile drive to his stables.
Supermarket chain owner Chris Kiley, 68, wanted to axe the woodland to make a track through the nature reserve around his home that overlooks Caswell Bay on the Gower, South Wales.
Mr Kiley told planners the 98-metre track would link his home with a small-holding on his land where he keeps horses and stables. But Welsh Government inspectors rejected his appeal, saying there was no reasonable justification after more than 150 objections.
In response, he said: ‘You mean, I can’t walk across my own ground to get to my barn? It just beggars belief.’
Mr Kiley bought the £2.5million home with wife Alice, 32, a former Miss Great Britain entrant who appeared on the TV cooking contest Masterchef in 2013 – but the couple have since split up.
He had already fallen out with neighbours after submitting plans to demolish his house and build a modern ‘Grand Designs’ style home in its place.
The millionaire was also embroiled in a row with residents in June 2020 after he allegedly cut down trees to make way for a ‘racing track’ for off-road bikes.
The house overlooks Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula which was designated the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – meaning planning projects require extra permissions.
Mr Kiley, who started with one CK’s supermarket in 1988, now owns a chain of 31 Welsh stores that pockets £56million in annual turnover.
Supermarket chain owner Chris Kiley, 68, (pictured) wanted to axe the woodland to make a track through the nature reserve around his home that overlooks Caswell Bay on the Gower, South Wales
The house overlooks Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula (pictured) which was designated the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – meaning planning projects require extra permissions
Mr Kiley bought the £2.5million home with wife Alice, 32, (pictured) a former Miss Great Britain entrant who appeared on the TV cooking contest Masterchef in 2013 – but the couple have since split up
Mr Kiley’s planning statement said 12 ‘small to medium’ trees would needed to be felled for the track but he promised to replace them.
It added: ‘Access tracks are common features in countryside locations such as this and the development is considered a modest addition which will have an acceptable impact on the wider Gower AONB.’
He wanted the track because it now meant a two-mile car journey from his home to get to the fields, horses and stables above the woodland.
Among the 154 objections were Bishopston Community Council who said the track was not needed as there was already a path running alongside it.
The group also said the plans were ‘environmentally unacceptable’ because of the damage to trees and wildlife.
Preservation group The Gower Society also objected to the proposals saying they had a ‘possible undesirable impact upon the AONB and the prominent coastal slope’.
Mr Kiley’s appeal argued that the footpath would enable him to maintain his woodland area as well as providing access to the smallholding.
He also said additional planting and removal of invasive species would enhance the wood.
But planning inspector Penelope Davies’s report said it wasn’t clear how a path would help the woodland’s maintenance.
Mr Kiley’s planning statement said 12 ‘small to medium’ trees would needed to be felled for the track but he promised to replace them. Pictured: His beauty spot home
Mr Kiley told planners the 98-metre track would link his home with a small-holding on his land where he keeps horses and stables (above). But Welsh Government inspectors rejected his appeal
The millionaire was also embroiled in a row with residents in June 2020 after he allegedly cut down trees to make way for a ‘racing track’ for off-road bikes. Pictured: Caswell Bay on the Gower, South Wales
The plans (pictured) show where the ‘box’ like property would sit on the edge and shows side elevation views
She said: ‘Other than the inconvenience of a round trip by road, there is little information that explains why any existing access to the fields or an existing public footpath through the woodland are not suitable.’
Previously, Mr Kiley faced the fury of neighbours who alleged that trees were being illegally cut down in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which was the first AONB designated in Britain in 1956.
They also complained that Mr Kiley and his friends were reportedly using the grounds as a ‘racing track’ for off-road bikes.
The supermarket millionaire wanted a huge open plan living area downstairs and Mr Kiley, who owns 31-strong supermarket chain CK Foodstore, said the home would fit ‘seamlessly’ into the character of the seafront.
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