The South West is a haven for celebrities because it is incredible scenery and private locations away from prying eyes. For many, a village that can’t be missed is Cornwall’s Rock and it’s easy to see why as it’s been called the UK’s answer to St Tropez, with its turquoise water, beautiful golden sands and array of restaurants.
Members of the royal family chose it as a holiday destination and celebrities like TV chef Gordon Ramsay have settled down there, but this popularity has taken a toll on locals. A walk down the street reveals James Bond-style mansions that shadow the locals who are struggling for even the most basic essentials, reports Cornwall Live.
Many residents have found themselves priced out of the village, and have been forced to move. Ishqa Sodhi-Miles, manager of a local business told the Sun last year: “I don’t agree with all the mega-mansions at all, they’re bulky and take up a lot of room, the plots they’re on could fit four or five houses on them.
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“Many of the bigger ones have a husband and wife living in them when they could house six or seven people. But it’s all about the money round here, so people sell their land for these places to be built on. But when you’re living somewhere that 90 per cent of the houses are second homes, it’s ridiculous.
“I’ve looked at house shares with friends, but it’s ridiculously expensive, and people want families in the properties, not young people. There’s nothing for young people down here and it’s a massive struggle. I have friends who live in caravans in other people’s gardens or in their vans, people who are sleeping on other people’s sofas.”
The rise of rich families looking for a beautiful holiday getaway and second home has left locals and residents fearing for the future. Even the local church was unsure of its fate as the 120-year-old building was struggling to find the money to replace the roof and some feared it could become a second home.
Speaking to The Sun, John Goodwin, the organist and treasurer for the Rock Methodist Church, said at the time: “The fear was that if we couldn’t raise the money, it would be bought and turned into one of these mega-mansions to be a second home.
“The likelihood was it would simply get converted or it would just be knocked down. We have had lovely iconic buildings and little cottages bought, but they don’t buy it for the property.
“The property is of no use, what they are buying is a plot of land for a larger property to be built on. It hurts a little bit because that’s their ‘spare’ money they’re spending on it.
“But in this community people don’t have ‘spare’ money, we’re not a rich area. The school might have to reduce staff because there are not enough children to go there.
“The prices for shopping and eating out here are astronomical even if you could afford to eat out. A fish and chips takeaway is £15 a throw.
“It’s always been a holiday area but over the past two decades the number of second homes has crept up to 40 per cent.”
This story was originally published in October 2023 and was republished in October 2024.