Branson keeps villa

The sale of Sir Richard Branson's Son Bunyola estate was completed on Wednesday, but the enormous Banyalbufar estate has not been sold as one single property. The Palma-based Kensington Properties Equity Savills of London confirmed yesterday that the sale was finalised the day before, but it appears that the Virgin tycoon wants to keep a lid on the small print. However, Branson has not completely upped sticks and left Majorca. He has kept hold of one the estate's newly built luxury villas and one of the two “ruins” on the property which he may choose to renovate in the future. Unconfirmed reports suggest that musician Mike Oldfield, with whom Branson set up Virgin records, has bought one of the four plots which form the estate. The three million square metre property was believed to have been put on the market at the end of last year for around $10 million, double what Branson paid for the estate ten years ago. It has been split up into four plots: the two villas, the two ruins and the estate's main “palace” or manor house. Last month the property was checked to see if it was legally and financially sound, with no outstanding bills with the local Banyalbufar council and was given a clean bill of health. As soon as the property, which includes two bays with ample depth of water for super yachts to moor up, was put on the market by Branson, who last month sold La Residencia Hotel in Deya, there was a great deal of private and commercial interest in the property. While the villas and ruins are private sales, the main manor house, which Branson wanted to convert into a luxury hotel at the heart of an exclusive eco-friendly resort, could still be converted into a hotel. Both of the villas have five to six bedrooms, one of which was used by the Duchess of York and the Princesses last year, and also have private swimming pools. The main manor house has ample room for 15 to 20 bedrooms, a number of reception rooms and lounges, one of which leads out to a huge terrace which has an uninterrupted view out to sea. A great deal of work has been done over ten years on the grounds, repairing the stone walls, the vine and olive groves, but the manor house remains pretty much untouched. Branson wanted to transform the estate into one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, but local environmentalists shattered his dream, hence why he has all but sold up and quit Majorca.