Entertainment · Celebrity · 2 hrs ago
Kate Winslet seeks permission to replace gates at West Wittering home
Kate Winslet has applied to replace two gates at her historic home in West Wittering, Sussex.
The gates are rotting after exposure to salty sea air, and the proposed replacements would use treated timber designed to resist decay.
The home is in a high-risk flood zone near a coastline affected by erosion and weakening sea defences.
Winslet’s application says the public coast path between the gates would remain open.
The Environment Agency has raised no objection, but says work within 16 metres of a sea defence may require a separate environmental permit.
The proposal concerns the gates, not a new sea barrier; Winslet previously received permission for timber sea defences in 2017 after withdrawing an earlier application.
The council’s decision on the gate application is not stated.
Kate Winslet has applied to replace two sets of gates at her Grade II-listed home in West Wittering, Sussex.
She says the existing wooden gates are rotting because of exposure to salty sea air.
The proposed treated-timber gates are intended to resist decay and require less maintenance.
The property is in Flood Zone 3, the highest risk category, in an area affected by coastal erosion.
The Environment Agency has raised no objection but said work near a sea defence may require a separate environmental permit.
- Who
- Kate Winslet.
- What
- She has applied to replace two sets of gates at her home with treated-timber gates.
- When
- The application was reported on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- Her Grade II-listed home in West Wittering, Sussex.
- Why
- She says the existing gates are rotting from exposure to salty sea air.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Environment Agency began building new tidal defences at West Wittering.
Winslet bought the property for £3.25 million.
Winslet withdrew an application for a sea barrier about 170 metres long at the property.
She received permission for 150 metres of new timber sea defences on the foreshore.
The proposed gate replacement was reported.
- Property
- Grade II-listed home in West Wittering, Sussex
- Gates
- Two sets of existing wooden gates proposed for replacement
- Proposed material
- Treated timber
- Harbour-side gateway
- Proposed widening from about 1.15 metres to 1.5 metres
- Flood risk
- Flood Zone 3, the highest risk category
- Environment Agency
- No objection; a separate permit may be needed for work within 16 metres of a sea defence
1 source
What people are saying
In this exposed, salt-laden position the gates would stay in good condition for considerably longer than a conventional timber gate, with minimal maintenance.
significant risk of flooding from high tides in Chichester Harbour