By Lauren Beavis/SWNS

Queen drummer Roger Taylor has clashed with Historic England over plans to build a new gatehouse at his home.

The musician, who rose to international fame alongside Freddy Mercury, Brian May and John Deacon, wants to replace three buildings on his stunning Cornish property.

His plans for Helford Passage in West Cornwall would see the three structures - an original gatehouse, a gardeners' store and general store - be replaced with one building to provide an office for the site manager and improve security.

The designs on the planning application.

But Historic England have contested his plans, arguing they would "cause harm" to the main house, which has "more than special architectural or historic interest".

According to the plans, submitted to Cornwall Council by CSA Architects on behalf of Taylor, the new gatehouse would have a footprint of 193m and would be, in parts, arranged over two storeys.

Historic England wrote to Cornwall Council arguing that the new building would be too large in comparison to the main house - and requested Taylor amend or withdraw the application to address its concerns.

Catherine Marlow, inspector of historic buildings and areas, wrote: "By combining the stores, workshops and other functions into one building the height and mass has increased, bringing with it an increased presence and dominance on the approach to the main grade II* listed house.

"Historic England considers that the proposed replacement building would have a harmful effect on the experience of the grade II* listed building within its landscape, which forms a part of its setting and therefore its heritage significance.

"The new building would be of a scale that challenges the primacy of the main house, and a design that fails to draw upon the ancillary status of the site."

The inspector suggested to form a small courtyard of buildings instead and pushing the development further to the east.

Ms Marlow's letter continued: "We have concerns about the current proposal which we have identified will cause harm to [the house], where a part of its significance stems from its setting.

"We consider that alternative schemes should be explored that would not generate this harm."

Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit has also raised concerns over the amount of glazing planned for the new building.

In a comment left on the council's planning portal, it explained: "The extent of glazing, however, and particularly that on the first floor and up into the pitch of the gable on the southwest elevation, are likely to make the proposed gatehouse appreciably more conspicuous, despite the adjacent tree cover.

"This will particularly be the case in winter months with the deciduous trees largely bare and the lights in the building being more used and giving rise to conspicuous light spill in comparison to the existing.

"We would recommend that in order for this proposed new gatehouse to be acceptable in this location the glazing required and particularly that on the southwest elevation be appreciably reduced to prevent this from becoming an unwelcome and conspicuous addition to the local landscape."

It is understood that the applicant has since invited Mawnan Parish Council for a visit of the site and that Historic England's objections are being addressed. The application will be considered by Cornwall Council in the near future.

Taylor's life in Cornwall started in the 1950s - and he has owned his Helford Passage home for years which features stunning countryside views of Helford River.