Nigel Farage plans to knock down £575,000 Kent coastal home and replace with three-storey newbuild

Nigel Farage has submitted plans to knock down a derelict house on the Kent coast and replace it with a swanky three-storey new-build.

The Reform UK leader has tasked leading local architects Hollaway Studio with the project in Greatstone on Romney Marsh.

The three-bed property, which is currently in a state of disrepair but boasts sea views, was bought in March last year for £575,000, according to Zoopla.

Mr Farage, who was reportedly paid £1.5 million to appear on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in November, told KentOnline this week: “This is a commercial rebuild through my company.

“I believe that Greatstone is a super place with a great beach.

“It will attract many people in the coming years.”

He added that it will be a long process and he has not yet decided what he will do with the property once work is complete.

Mr Farage’s company, Thorn in the Side Limited, has lodged an application with Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC) to knock down the house and replace it with a three-storey dwelling, including a lower ground floor garage.

Hollaway Studio, which has drawn up the designs, is responsible for a number of iconic buildings in the county, including the Curious Brewery site in Ashford and the F51 multi-storey skatepark and Rocksalt restaurant in Folkestone.

In the planning documents, the Hythe-based firm says the existing house is “currently in a state of disrepair” and is smaller compared to other properties on the street.

Under the plans, the property will be demolished and replaced with a new one.

It will remain a three-bed but will become three-storey, including a master bedroom and en-suite in the roof space.

The ground floor at street level will include a garage and carport with space for three cars in total, as well as a “generous driveway” out the front, with space for a further two vehicles.

The swish new home will also feature a sunken terrace outside, backing directly onto Greatstone beach, and a balcony on the first floor, also overlooking the sea.

The documents add: “The predominant materials are grey bricks and vertical timber cladding, which will weather naturally to a silver colour.

“Weathered timber is commonly used around Dungeness and is well-suited to the coastal environment.

“The grey bricks have been chosen to complement the natural tones of the timber cladding.”

New Romney Town Council raised no objections to the planning application. Two of its planning committee’s eight members abstained from voting on it.

There are no comments from members of the public for or against the proposals.

It is not yet known when FHDC will decide on the application, but a deadline of July 23 has been set.

As the proposals are for a single property, it is likely to be decided by planning officers rather than by councillors.

Before being snapped up in 2023, the last time the house was sold was in April 1996 for £58,000.

In December last year, it was reported that Mr Farage had bought a four-bed property in Lydd-on-Sea, less than two miles down the coast from Greatstone.

The famous politician was born in Downe, near Orpington, before it was officially made part of the London Borough of Bromley.

He still resides mainly in Downe – a small village technically part of Bromley but outside of the urban area of London, and about 10 miles from Sevenoaks.

In a March interview in UnHerd, he even stressed the Kentish identity of his primary home.

“Nobody in those twin villages of Downe and Cudham believes they live in London,” he said.

“At the next local elections, there will be a candidate elected to take TN14 and TN16 out of Greater London. Separatism from Greater London is coming, believe you me.”

Mr Farage stood for the constituency of South Thanet in the general elections of 2005 and 2015 when he was the leader of Ukip.

In 2015, he came second, losing out to Conservative Craig Mackinlay.

In December last year, Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid questioned Mr Farage on his reported £1.5 million payment for appearing on I’m a Celebrity.

He replied: “Is this the biggest paycheck I’ve ever had? Yes, it is – and what on earth is wrong with that?”

Mr Farage came third in the reality show.