One of Britain's wealthiest tycoons has lost the latest round of his battle to build a multi-million pound mansion on the Hampshire coastline.

Jim Ratcliffe's second avocation to redevelop a seafront site at Thorns Beach - near Beaulieu was thrown out by the National Park Authority (NPA) this morning.

Members complained that the proposed development would be 200 per cent larger than an existing house on the land.

They also said the avocation was almost identical to a previous proposal that was rejected by the NPA in 2012 and rejected on appeal.

Councillor Maurine Holding said: “People didn't like it last time and they don't like it this time.”

Representatives for Mr Ratcliffe, founder of the INEOS Chemical Company, said it was “the only house on the Solent shoreline that looks as if it actually belongs by the sea.”

But the avocation was rejected on the grounds that the scheme was “unacceptably large” and would set a precedent if approved.

Yesterday, the Daily Echo revealed how Mr Ratcliffe planned to fight the plans.