The village by the sea once bought 'on a Whim' by a good friend of ex-PM David Cameron to turn into 'Soho House-on-Sea' was arrested by a friend of Prince William.
The 760 -hectare Bantham estate – which includes a village, different characteristics of class II, a vineyard, a shop, a golf course and a piece by South Devon Coast including a number of boat houses – was purchased by Harry Aubrey -Fletcher in a £ 30 million deal.
The locals told MailOnline this week that they were 'deep skeptical' of the new owner after collisions with his predecessor and insisted on him to prioritize rebuilding trust in the community
Bantham – once one of Europe's top 10 beaches – has been on the market since last year with a price tag of £ 30 million.
Nicholas Johnston, the former owner of Soho House, bought the estate for £ 11.5 million in 2014 and told residents that he had no developmental plans, but only three years later he unveiled proposals for 27 new houses, a beach club and an underground parking space too Build.
Thousands of indignant locals came together to create the Save Bantham Group that has more than 3,000 members on Facebook.
Among them is Nick Cotter, 72, who has lived in the area for 13 years, the proposals of the previous owner described as 'absolutely insane'.
He said: 'What is so special about Bantham is that there is no other estuary, so undeveloped but with such easy access to the audience – it is really unique.
The village by the sea of Bantham was arrested, was purchased by Harry Aubrey -Fletcher – a friend of Prince William – in a £ 30 million deal
The estate was previously owned by Nicholas Johnston (photo), a good friend of ex-PM David Cameron, who bought it for £ 11.5 million in 2014. He intended to build 27 new houses, a beach club and an underground parking space in the village
Nick Cotter, 72, who has lived in the area for 13 years, described the proposals of the previous owner as 'absolutely insane'
'It's a shame that the previous owner came in and promised that there would be no change.
'His shift came from there will not be changes in I will press every cent from this.
'There was a huge public response to the plans, but I would not say that residents prevented him from getting a building permit – we did our utmost to help him follow his Ethos for the estate that retains and access for everyone Everyone was.
'There are people who felt awarded themselves but did not stand out because there were some farmers who objected to the pheasant shoot and their lease contracts were terminated.
He bought the estate in 2014 and initially said that he had no plans for development in the area, but then unveiled proposals to build a beach club that would be sunk in the ground, including a gym, café and swimming pool.
Johnston suffered a considerable setback when a parish plan to ban outsiders to buy second houses won overwhelming support from villagers.
And in 2021 he entered into a request to convert a historic boat house into a luxury restaurant and cocktail bar after complaints.
The 760-hectare Bantham Estate has now been purchased by Harry Aubrey-Fletcher (photo) in a £ 30 million deal
Prince William is celebrating the victory of Aston Villa in the competition of the champion with Harry Aubrey-Fletcher in October 2024
The Bantham Estate (photo), including Bantham Beach, various features of Grade II, De Dorpswinkel, Bigbury Golf Course and various boats students
The Seaside Estate (photo) is located in a South Devon area of excellent beauty
Local Nick Cotter Outside a local boat house that lies along the Avon river – that flows into the English canal
Nick said he would be 'delighted' if the new owner would keep the area as an estate
In the discussion of his hope for the new owner, pensioner said Mr. Cotter: “This is an estate and I would be happy with the new owners who keep it that way.
'Harry is going to keep this because it is or is it especially for him that he is going to develop – I have heard that he thinks the estate was being managed incorrectly.
'I think the new owner is planning to manage this well.
“But our message to the new owner is that we will be deeply skeptical.”
At the time, Mr. Johnston said “we have no plans with Soho House” and said he no longer owns the brand. He said: 'I have no great love for second houses at all.
“We fully support the needs of people in our community, their need for housing, challenges for buyers for the first time and the best situation for everyone in the Bantham community.”
One of the inhabitants of the village said that it was 'too political' to discuss the owners of the village in public, while another said, “There is much that I would like to say about how things have been handled.”
In the thriving local store and café, which was part of the sale, co-owner Linda Williams said that the Lord Aubrey-Fletcher had already visited to introduce himself.
Bantham was once named one of Europe's top 10 beaches
Bantham (photo) has been on the market since last year with a price tag of £ 30 million
The demolition Inn is one of the only drinking places within the 728 hectare estate
The Bantham Estate (photo) is also the home of Bantham Beach, a popular surf spot
The flourishing local store and café – Bantham Village -Shinswinkels – was also part of the sale
The co-owner of the Linda Williams (photo) store said that Mr Aubrey-Fletcher had already visited to introduce himself
Linda (photo) has run the store with her daughter for 10 years
Linda, who ran the store for 10 years with her daughter said: 'The last owner was a bit controversial, he was ok with us and we had no big problems with him, but I know others felt different.
'The new owner has been inside and seems very nice and easy to deal with, I hope he understands that it is a community that he has bought here and not just a business -like one.
'This place has such a pristine beauty and must stay that way.
“He has some work to do to rebuild trust in the community.”
Aubrey-Fletcher son of Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th baronet is friends with the future king since their PrEP school days at Ludgrove and via Eton.
The friendship continued with Aubrey-Fletcher who accompanied testaments at Cornwall for a boy's weekend of surfing, shooting trips and skiing in Klosters with Wills and Catherine for their marriage.
William was even a usher when Harry married Louise Stourton, oldest daughter of the 24th Lord Stourton, and Aubrey-Fletcher was mentioned as one of the godfathers of Prince Louis.
He serves as an adviser to William's Duchy Cornwall.
His family business, Chilton Home Farms, of which his parents are co-director, said: 'We are pleased to say that the Bantham estate was sold to Chilton Home Farms […] Owned by the Aubrey-Fletcher family who have been farming in Buckinghamshire for generations.
“The family has visited Bantham for many years and is looking forward to this very special part of the South Hams.”
