Frasier star Kelsey Grammer has had his plans for a Grand Designs-style renovation of his west coast home blocked by planning officials.
His offer to renovate and significantly extend his £1million seaside cottage in Portishead, near Bristol, including a new games room and gym in the basement, has been rejected.
The 69-year-old American actor and his Bristol-born wife, former flight attendant Kayte Walsh, 45, bought the property with stunning views of the Bristol Channel and the Welsh coast almost two years ago to be closer to Kayte’s family.
Described as a ‘coastal treasure’, the cottage dates back to the late 19th century and features traditional flagstones, exposed ceiling beams and stone fireplaces.
But Grammer wanted to turn it into a more luxurious, modern four-bedroom home with a new eat-in kitchen, a cozy room and a study.
He applied to North Somerset Borough 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 has proposed a Grand Designs-style makeover to his UK seaside home, which overlooks the Bristol Channel (seen above) from near Portishead
The American actor, 69, bought the apartment with his Bristol-born wife Kayte Walsh (left). The couple can be seen with Grammer’s daughter and fellow actor Spencer Grammer
He also wanted to demolish a garage and carport and build a new basement that would include a fitness room, playroom, guest room and cellar.
Other proposed works include new doors and windows, a rear terrace, an external staircase and landscaping changes including a hard surface and new driveway.
There were no objections from neighbours, but the local council expressed ‘reservations’ about a huge increase in the size of the 1,828 square metre plot.
In a letter they wrote: ‘The cottage is a bit of a treasure on the coast road, and its renovation will therefore ideally be a more visually empathetic exercise than that which has taken place on the neighbouring properties.
‘Rather than the 50% rule of thumb for footprint expansion, this seems closer to 150%.
‘If the footprint is accepted, then the finishes must be carefully executed and the visual impact of the ‘mass’ must be attractively presented.
‘Given these reservations and given the context of the directly adjacent plots, which are all also located directly on the highway, this proposal is not inappropriate in itself in the area.’
Grammer wants to transform the £1million two-bedroom cottage (pictured master bedroom) into a more luxurious, modern home with four bedrooms, a new kitchen-diner, a snug and a study.
Wales can be seen from the conservatory extension, but the actor wants to demolish this ‘dated and dilapidated’ extension in favour of a new two-storey side extension
The beautiful period property, described as a ‘coastal treasure’, dates back to the late 19th century and includes exposed ceiling beams (seen in the sitting room) as one of its period features
The Frasier star (who appeared on the show last year) revealed the purchase in a BBC interview, saying: “We’ve bought a little place that we’re going to be working on. We’re not going to be living there for a while, but yeah, we’re very excited about it.”
The cottage and outbuildings date from the post-medieval period and are among the oldest houses in the area.
It is located near a number of monumental ancient sites: a hill fort, a dish grave, a banjo enclosure (both so named because of their shape) and earthen ramparts dating from the Iron Age.
Grammer’s new home was described by estate agents Knight Frank as a “beautiful” detached cottage with “spectacular” views across the Channel stretching to the Welsh coast.
In a sales advertisement they wrote: ‘Situated in a stunning setting, perfectly situated along the beautiful coastal road between Portishead and Clevedon, on the edge of the Gordano Valley, with spectacular, uninterrupted views of almost 180 degrees over both the neighbouring farmland and the Bristol Channel.
‘The plot has enormous potential to expand and maximise its location, provided any necessary building permits are granted.
The cottage (pictured is the dining room) is one of the oldest in the area, with the local parish council having expressed ‘reservations’ about the scale of the planned extension
The current study space consists of a beautiful office chair and desk at the top of the stairs overlooking the sea
The utility room of the house leads to a small terrace and lawn
The master bedroom, which spans the entire depth of the property, has views in both directions
‘The house offers comfortable living space in its current condition and also offers enormous development potential for extension, in both a modern and traditional design.
‘Immediately behind the garage is a raised covered terrace, ideal for guests, with beautiful panoramic views over the Channel to the west, towards the setting sun.’
North Somerset Borough Council refused the application, stating that the extension was too large, with the floor area approximately doubling, and would detract from the character and appearance of the building, which was described as a ‘historic asset’.
They were also concerned about road safety, as a new road would obstruct visibility.
Grammer, who grew up in New Jersey and later Florida, bought the West Country estate to be closer to the family of his Bristol-born wife, Kayte Walsh.
The star has been spotted in the region for years after marrying Kayte, the daughter of former Bristol City footballer Alan, in 2011.
Photos from the property listing show the traditional stone wall of the cottage which is still visible in the main bathroom
The kitchen currently features a gas hob and integrated oven and microwave, set amongst 70s style cabinetry
Grammer’s new home is described by estate agency Knight Frank as a ‘beautiful’ detached cottage with ‘spectacular’ views over the British Channel
He is known for his fondness for the town of Portishead in Somerset, where Kayte grew up and which later gave its name to the 1990s band.
In a BBC interview last year, Grammer said: ‘I like the people in Portishead and I like my time there. It’s a good place.
“We’ve bought a little spot that we’re going to work on. We’re not going to live there for a while, but yeah, we’re quite excited about it. We’ve got a little view of Wales from the channel there.”
Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane in the 1990s sitcom, which was revived last year by Paramount+ with Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst playing his old Oxford University friend, Professor Alan “Corny” Cornwall.