Frasier star Kelsey Grammer has had his plans for a Grand Designs-style makeover of his seaside west country home blocked by planning officials.
His proposal to revamp and massively expand his £1m seaside cottage at Portishead, near Bristol, which included a new basement games room and gym, have been refused.
The American actor, 69, and his Bristol-born wife, former flight attendant Kayte Walsh, 45, bought the property with its stunning views of the Bristol Channel and the Welsh coast nearly two years ago to be closer to Kayte’s family.
The cottage, described as a ‘coastal treasure’, dates back to the late 1800s and boasts traditional quarry tiles, exposed ceiling timbers and stone fireplaces.
But Grammer wanted to turn it into a more luxury modern four-bedroom home with a new kitchen diner, snug and study.
He applied to North Somerset Council for planning permission to demolish ‘dated and dilapidated’ extensions and a conservatory and build a new two-storey side extension.
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer proposed a Grand Designs-style makeover of his seaside home in the UK, which has views over the Bristol Channel (seen above) from near Portishead
The American actor, 69, bought the pad with his Bristol-born wife Kayte Walsh (left). The couple are seen with Grammer’s daughter and fellow actor Spencer Grammer
He also wanted to tear down a garage and car port and build a new basement gym, games room, guest bedroom and cellar.
Other proposed works included new doors and windows, a rear terrace, external stairway, and landscaping alterations including a hardstanding and new driveway.
There were no objections from neighbours but the local parish council expressed ‘reservations’ about a massive increase in footprint of the 1,828 sq.ft property.
In a letter, they said: ‘The cottage is a bit of a coast road treasure. Its updating will therefore ideally be a more visually empathetic exercise than that which has taken place in its adjacent properties.
‘Rather than the 50% rule of thumb for footprint expansion, this appears to be nearer 150%.
‘If the footprint is accepted, then the finishes will need to be sensitively done and the visual impact of the ‘massing’ will need to be attractively presented.
‘With these reservations in mind and in the context of the immediately adjacent properties which are all similarly directly off the highway, this proposal is not, of itself, out of keeping with its surroundings.’
Grammer wants to turn the £1million two-bed period cottage (main bedroom picture) into a more luxury modern four-bedroom home with a new kitchen diner, snug and study
Wales can be seen from the conservatory extension, but the actor wants to demolish this with ‘dated and dilapidated’ extensions in favour of a new two-storey side extension
The stunning period property, described as a ‘coastal treasure’, dates back to the late 1800s boasting exposed ceiling timbers (seen in the sitting room) among its historic features
The Frasier star (seen on the show last year) revealed the purchase in a BBC interview saying: ‘We bought a little place were going to be working on. We won’t be taking up residence for a while but, yeah, we’re pretty excited about it’
The cottage and its outbuildings date back to the post medieval period and is one of the oldest houses in the area.
It lies near a scheduled ancient monument – a hillfort, saucer barrow, banjo enclosure (both so-named because of their shape) and earthworks dating back to the Iron Age.
Grammer’s new home was described by estate agents Knight Frank as a ‘pretty’ detached cottage with ‘spectacular’ views over the British Channel stretching to the Welsh coast.
In a sales listing, they said: ‘It is situated in a superb setting, perfectly located along the beautiful coastal road between Portishead and Clevedon, on the edge of the Gordano Valley, commanding a spectacular uninterrupted almost 180 degree view over both scenic adjacent farmland and beyond to the Bristol Channel.
‘The property has tremendous scope to extend and maximise its setting subject to any necessary planning consents.
The cottage (dining room pictured) is one of the oldest in the area, with the local parish council expressing ‘reservations’ about the scale of the planned expansion
The current study area consists of a gorgeous desk chair and bureau at the top of the stairs with a view out over the sea
The house’s utility room leads through to a small patio and lawn
The larger bedroom, spanning the entire depth of the property, has views in both directions
‘The house offers comfortable living accommodation as currently presented, as well as offering a huge amount of development potential to extend either in contemporary or traditional design.
‘Immediately behind the garage is a raised covered terrace, ideal for entertaining with stunning panoramic views over the Channel in a west-facing direction towards the setting sun.’
Refusing the application, North Somerset Council said the extension was too big, roughly doubling the floorspace, and would harm the character and appearance of the property, which was described as a ‘heritage asset’.
They also cited concerns over road safety as a new roadway would have bad visibility.
Grammer, who was raised in New Jersey and later Florida, bought the property in the West Country to be closer the the family of his Bristol-born wife, Kayte Walsh.
The star has been seen visiting the area for years after marrying Kayte, the daughter of former Bristol City footballer Alan, in 2011.
Pictures form the property listing show the traditional stone walling of the cottage remains on view in the main bathroom
The kitchen is currently served by a gas cooker and integrated oven and microwave, amongst 1970s-style cupboards
Grammer’s new home is described by estate agents Knight Frank as a ‘pretty’ detached cottage with ‘spectacular’ views over the British Channel
He is known to like the Somerset town of Portishead where Kayte was raised, and which later gave its name to the 1990s band.
In a BBC interview last year, Grammer said: ‘I love the people in Portishead and I love my time there. It’s a good spot.
‘We bought a little place we’re going to be working on. We won’t be taking up residence for a while but, yeah, we’re pretty excited about it. We have a little view of Wales from the channel there.’
Grammer played Dr Frasier Crane in the 1990s TV sitcom which was revived last year by Paramount+ with Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst cast as his old Oxford college buddy Professor Alan ‘Corny’ Cornwall.
