Inside new Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘secret’ life in the UK – as he rows with ‘jealous’ neighbours over BEES

NEIGHBOURS of Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have told of his secret life in an isolated corner of England - and lifted the lid on a row over his "bee factory".

Sir Jim, who in 2023 bought a 25 percent stake in United for £1 billion, is Britain's second richest man, with a net worth of £29.6 billion.

He also owns Nice FC, Team Sky cycling and his firm Ineos is the main partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

The 71-year-old, who grew up on a council estate a stonesthrow from Old Trafford, spends much of his time in Monaco.

While not in the millionaires playground, he leads a quieter life in Hampshire's New Forest, enjoying sailing and adventure sports.

Since snapping up a ramshackle beachfront home in 2006, the businessman has carried out an extensive redevelopment of the site.

But the work behind his CCTV and spike-riddled eight foot high walls has attracted fury over the years, with Sir Jim forced to see off four planning refusals on his home.

This week, the billionaire won his latest battle - an 18 month row over a honey factory on his land.

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The businessman, who has spoken of his love of homemade produce, was accused of constructing an “industrial site” after he built two huge barns, a tennis court and a pergola without consent.

Sir Jim applied for retrospective planning permission from the planning authority in 2022 as one neighbour accused of doing "what he wants with impunity".

Objecting to the plans in November 2022, they livid local said: "Yet more development from an industrialist who seems intent on turning this stretch of the Hampshire coast into an industrial site.

“And, as we have come to expect