Kelsey Grammer has sparked a war with his neighbours after being given permission to demolish their historic cottage near Portishead, Somerset.

The Frasier star is planning to bulldoze the 200-year-old home after his proposal to revamp and expand it were refused last year by the council.

The American actor, 70, and his Bristol-born wife, former flight attendant Kayte Walsh, 46, bought the property with its stunning views of the Bristol Channel and the Welsh coast nearly two years ago to be closer to Kayte’s family. 

The cottage, described as a ‘coastal treasure’, dates back to the late 1800s and boasts traditional quarry tiles, exposed ceiling timbers and stone fireplaces.

According to The Sun, his plans are to make way for a ‘modern home complete with a games room and gym. 

Last year, he wanted to turn it into a more luxury modern four-bedroom home with a new kitchen diner, snug and study.

Kelsey Grammer has sparked a war with his neighbours after being given permission to demolish their historic cottage near Portishead, Somerset 

The Frasier star is planning to bulldoze the 200-year-old home after his proposal to revamp and expand it were refused last year by the council (pictured with his wife)

He applied to North Somerset Council for planning permission to demolish ‘dated and dilapidated’ extensions and a conservatory and build a new two-storey side extension, but his proposal was rejected.

In January, he submitted a new proposal under his company The Fossil UK Trust to if see if permission is required to instead demolish the whole house and garage, with planners saying it isn’t.

A notice taped to the cottage reads that it was set to be demolished on or after March 15 and the site was to be ‘levelled and cleared’.

Angry residents have taken to the comments of the planning application on the council’s website to share their thoughts.

One neighbour wrote: ‘I am concerned to see that the proposal to demolish a character cottage built in the vernacular style, sited prominently on the coast road is being considered.

‘The development of any site along this stretch of road will damage the rural nature of this area and contribute to suburban spread. It will set a precedent for further development along this area important coastline.’

Another quipped: ‘It would be a very sad day to see a lovely old cottage with such rich local historical significance be destroyed. The other objections state quite clearly the reasons why demolition should not be entertained.’

Meanwhile, a third wrote that the cottage ‘is one of the few habitations that can be seen on the 1840 tithe maps along the coast road from Portishead to Clevedon. 

‘Originally surrounded by the thick heathland of Portishead Down and then farmland, this historic cottage has seen Portishead and the surrounding parishes, as time has progressed and expanding communities have grown.

According to The Sun , his plans are to make way for a ‘modern home complete with a games room and gym

A notice taped to the cottage reads that it was set to be demolished on or after March 15 and the site was to be ‘levelled and cleared’

Angry residents have taken to the comments of the planning application on the council’s website to share their thoughts 

Grammer previously wanted to turn the £1million two-bed period cottage (main bedroom picture) into a more luxury modern four-bedroom home with a new kitchen diner, snug and study

Wales can be seen from the conservatory extension

‘The stunning character of this period building should be reason enough for any request to demolish to be discounted. 

‘If we do not value our architectural heritage such as this, then what stands in the way of unscrupulous developers and apathetic bureaucrats? The cottage should be cherished not swept aside.’

Another close neighbour wrote: ‘The possibility of this cottage which is at least 185 years old, being razed to the ground, is not acceptable.’ 

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Kelsey for comment. 

Last year’s application stated that he wanted to tear down a garage and car port and build a new basement gym, games room, guest bedroom and cellar.

Other proposed works included new doors and windows, a rear terrace, external stairway, and landscaping alterations including a hardstanding and new driveway.

There were no objections from neighbours but the local parish council expressed ‘reservations’ about a massive increase in footprint of the 1,828 sq.ft property.

In a letter, they said: ‘The cottage is a bit of a coast road treasure. Its updating will therefore ideally be a more visually empathetic exercise than that which has taken place in its adjacent properties.

‘Rather than the 50% rule of thumb for footprint expansion, this appears to be nearer 150%.

Last year’s application stated that he wanted to tear down a garage and car port and build a new basement gym, games room, guest bedroom and cellar (sitting room pictured) 

The cottage (dining room pictured) is one of the oldest in the area

The current study area consists of a gorgeous desk chair and bureau at the top of the stairs with a view out over the sea

Pictures form the property listing show the traditional stone walling of the cottage remains on view in the main bathroom

The kitchen is currently served by a gas cooker and integrated oven and microwave, amongst 1970s-style cupboards

‘If the footprint is accepted, then the finishes will need to be sensitively done and the visual impact of the ‘massing’ will need to be attractively presented.

‘With these reservations in mind and in the context of the immediately adjacent properties which are all similarly directly off the highway, this proposal is not, of itself, out of keeping with its surroundings.’

The cottage and its outbuildings date back to the post medieval period and is one of the oldest houses in the area.

It lies near a scheduled ancient monument – a hillfort, saucer barrow, banjo enclosure (both so-named because of their shape) and earthworks dating back to the Iron Age.

Grammer’s new home was described by estate agents Knight Frank as a ‘pretty’ detached cottage with ‘spectacular’ views over the British Channel stretching to the Welsh coast.

Refusing the application, North Somerset Council said the extension was too big, roughly doubling the floorspace, and would harm the character and appearance of the property, which was described as a ‘heritage asset’.

They also cited concerns over road safety as a new roadway would have bad visibility.

Grammer, who was raised in New Jersey and later Florida, bought the property in the West Country to be closer the the family of his Bristol-born wife, Kayte Walsh.

In January, he submitted a new proposal under his company The Fossil UK Trust to if see if permission is required to instead demolish the whole house and garage, with planners saying it isn’t

He bought the pad with his Bristol-born wife Kayte (left). The couple are seen with Grammer’s daughter and fellow actor Spencer Grammer

The Frasier star (seen on the show last year) revealed the purchase in a BBC interview saying: ‘We bought a little place were going to be working on. We won’t be taking up residence for a while but, yeah, we’re pretty excited about it’

The star has been seen visiting the area for years after marrying Kayte, the daughter of former Bristol City footballer Alan, in 2011.

He is known to like the Somerset town of Portishead where Kayte was raised, and which later gave its name to the 1990s band.

In a BBC interview in 2023, Grammer said: ‘I love the people in Portishead and I love my time there. It’s a good spot.

‘We bought a little place we’re going to be working on. We won’t be taking up residence for a while but, yeah, we’re pretty excited about it. We have a little view of Wales from the channel there.’

Grammer played Dr Frasier Crane in the 1990s TV sitcom which was revived last year by Paramount+ with Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst cast as his old Oxford college buddy Professor Alan ‘Corny’ Cornwall.