Former footballer and actor Vinnie Jones has become embroiled in a dispute with conservationists over his proposal to develop a luxury shooting retreat on his expansive West Sussex estate.
Plans for a Countryside Sporting Retreat
The 60-year-old actor and former Wimbledon defender has submitted planning documents to the South Downs National Park Authority seeking permission to convert three redundant buildings at his 2,000-acre Blackwool Farm in Petworth.
The proposed development would transform these structures into seven units of 'private bespoke accommodation' designed for guests participating in countryside sporting activities. According to the submitted plans, Jones aims to create a comfortable experience for visitors, with each unit featuring en suite bathrooms.
Wildlife Trust Raises Serious Concerns
The Sussex Wildlife Trust has voiced strong objections to the project, stating it is 'very concerned' that increased game bird shooting would prove detrimental to local wildlife. Conservation officer Helen Davies highlighted specific worries about nesting Barn Owls being disturbed both during construction and the proposed year-round occupation by up to 14 guests.
Ms Davies expressed particular concern about the proposed timing of providing alternative nest sites, suggesting that 'it can take a year or more for Barn Owls to find and use new nest sites', making the 30-day advance provision likely inadequate.
The trust also referenced the discovery of a dead owl in one of the barns scheduled for modernisation and questioned the scale of existing sporting activities, noting that while game shooting is mentioned as an existing activity organised by a local club, no evidence has been presented regarding its current extent.
Architect Counters Conservation Claims
Jones's architect, Douglas Briggs, has strongly refuted the trust's objections, describing them as 'skewed by many false assumptions and inaccuracies'. Mr Briggs denied the existence of any game shooting club as part of their proposals, calling this assumption 'false and misleading'.
He further argued that a barn owl expert employed by Jones had already surveyed the site and suggested that Ms Davies had not thoroughly studied the application proposals before writing her objection letter. Regarding the dead owl discovery, Mr Briggs called it 'an unhelpful misrepresentation' that unfairly linked renovation works to the demise of barn owls.
A source close to Jones told The Telegraph that 'any suggestions that protected species like barn owls will be harmed is completely misleading'.
Local Community Opposition
Local residents have also joined the opposition to the development plans. Jenny Wickham objected that the farm and land were unsuitable for such development, warning that 'the extra activity, noise and traffic generated by guests and service workers will ruin the calmness and quiet of the immediate area'.
Another local resident, Chris Jones, described the plans as 'totally inappropriate for a small country farm' and expressed concern that the development would significantly impact existing diverse wildlife and negatively affect the local community.
The planning decision now rests with the South Downs National Park Authority, which must balance the economic benefits of rural tourism against environmental conservation concerns in this picturesque part of West Sussex.
