Mawgan Porth on Cornwall’s north coast is often called “Hollywood-on-Sea” thanks to the stream of celebrities snapping up luxury homes there.
From Cate Blanchett to Jason Statham, the list of famous names keeps growing.
But behind the glossy new builds and million-pound views, the village has been gripped by a bitter five-year planning row that refuses to go away.
At the centre of it all is businessman Dean Robson, who runs a renewable energy company and several local ventures.
His dream seaside home has sparked outrage among neighbours after he added a swimming pool, garage, and office building without permission.
How the Dispute Began
Robson claimed he believed the extra buildings were covered by “permitted development” rules, which allow certain works without full planning consent.
But Cornwall Council didn’t agree—and neither did the government’s Planning Inspectorate when he appealed.
Despite being told to remove the unauthorised structures by July 2025, Robson has stood his ground, leaving council officials under pressure to act.
Council Warns of Tougher Action
Local Reform councillor Rowland O’Connor says the council cannot afford to look weak.
“When there is an enforcement notice, you need to be seen to be enforcing it,” he explained. “What message does it send if we don’t?”
He stopped short of threatening bulldozers but made clear that enforcement is on the table if Robson continues to resist.
“This doesn’t go away if he ignores us,” O’Connor said. “It needs dealing with.”
The Changing Face of Mawgan Porth
Once filled with traditional stone cottages, Mawgan Porth has rapidly transformed into a place of whitewashed render, glass-fronted mansions, and soaring house prices.
Rightmove lists the average home here at over £5.7 million, making it one of the UK’s most expensive seaside spots.
Hollywood stars aren’t the only ones moving in—wealthy professionals from London and beyond have also turned the Cornish village into a property hotspot.
But for many locals, the boom has left them feeling squeezed out and frustrated by developments that seem to bend or break the rules.
Neighbours Speak Out
Some residents accuse Robson of arrogance.
One lifelong local told the Daily Mail: “Either he made an incredibly foolish mistake, or he thought he’d just get away with it.
I’m not against people developing, but you can’t just build whatever you want wherever you want.”
Others described the garage and pool complex as an “incongruous monstrosity” and even compared it to a bunker built illegally for the 2021 G7 Summit at Carbis Bay Hotel.
The Owner’s Defence
Robson has defended himself in the past, telling councillors that his property already had planning permission when he bought it in 2017 and that the main house was finished in 2020.
He claimed the absence of a garage was “an oversight” and that the pandemic forced him to create an office space on-site.
He admitted one mistake: the garage and pool sit just a metre or two outside the official boundary of his property.
“If this wasn’t the case,” he argued, “then planning permission would never have been needed.”
Council’s Next Move
Cornwall Council has confirmed it issued an enforcement notice requiring Robson to remove the unauthorised structures, and that his appeal has already been dismissed.
“We are communicating with the landowner with a view to ensuring compliance shortly,” a spokesperson said.
For now, the saga drags on, leaving villagers wondering whether this multimillion-pound mansion will eventually be forced to scale back—or whether the rules will once again bend in favour of money and influence.
What Comes Next for Hollywood-on-Sea
With its celebrity reputation and record-breaking house prices, Mawgan Porth is unlikely to lose its shine anytime soon.
But this ongoing dispute highlights a growing tension: how do you preserve a village’s character when millionaire buyers keep reshaping it?
Locals will be watching closely to see if the council finally follows through—or if the controversial mansion remains standing, pool and all.