The comedian is having to jump through hoops to realize his dream of transforming the back garden of his new Hampstead property, which is situated in a conservation area.
Following a precise eco-plan, the sixty-three-year-old is required to construct two bat roost boxes, a bird nest box, a “sparrow nest terrace,” a “insect hotel,” and a “hedgehog home.” The reason for this is because the star will need to remove nine historically significant trees, as well as three-quarters of the existing lawn, a pergola, retaining walls, and a waterfall. A permeable tennis court is one of his goals, along with planting 13 new trees and “plants that are biodiversity and pollinator friendly” to replace the destroyed vegetation.
Despite irate local complaints, Ricky Gervais has prevailed in his struggle to install a tennis court for lessons at his opulent £14.75 million property.
The comedian is having to jump through hoops to realize his dream of changing the back garden of his new Hampstead property, which is located in a conservation area.
It will ‘deliver a significantly more wildlife friendly garden, changing dynamically with the seasons, providing blossom, nectar and fruit’, adds one planning doc.
According to a tree report, most of the work will only be done with hand-held tools.
Ricky and wife Jane Fallon, 63, were given the green light by the Council, which conceded that the court would only be used occasionally for ‘one-to-one tennis coaching’.
Yet some residents are furious with the plans mainly due to the noise from the tennis players and any spectators, the newly planted trees will take decades to reach maturity, and the risk of flooding.
Howard Gross said: ‘It is unfair and unrealistic noise wise. It will not only be the ball or balls being hit or bounced before serving that will be noisy.
‘If practising a machine firing balls over the net is even more noisy. The players will make noise when speaking or shouting to each other. A tennis court can be used for doubles i.e. 4 adults and / or children. From time to time there will be spectators watching, shouting and cheering.
‘There is a seating arrangement alongside our boundary fence is for several spectators to be involved with the game. There is no mention of the number of seats.
‘There is no fencing around the court so there is a danger of being hit by a ball which is mishit and lands in our or a neighbour’s garden.
The 63-year-old has to stick to a strict eco-plan, which includes building two bat roost boxes, a bird nest box, a ‘sparrow nest terrace’, an ‘insect hotel’ and a ‘hedgehog home’ (his garden seen)
This is because the star is having to chop down nine historic trees and rip out three-quarters of the current lawn, plus a waterfall, pergola and retaining walls
We will not have peaceful enjoyment of our garden and house whilst the court is in use.’
Mr Gross also had fears that the court could be turned into a footie pitch, adding: ‘If the net is removed the permeable surface could be used as 5 a side football pitch or for other sports.’
Despite Ricky consulting the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust over his plans, which gave it their blessing, Mr Gross accused the trust of lying.
‘The planning application refers to the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust who say they have consulted the neighbours.
This is factually incorrect. They did not consult us or as far as we are aware,’ says Mr Gross.
He adds: ‘To do heavy noisy drilling all day without a peaceful break, even during lunch today, shows that the ‘soft landscaping’ is misleading.
‘Removing healthy mature trees for personal convenience is ignoring the government policy to protect the environment.’
Steve Martin also objected saying: ‘Loss of many mature, beautiful trees which have been in the garden for many years some of which are over 20 metres tall.
‘Even though a replacement planting plan has been submitted, to get to the current maturity of these trees will take 20-30 years.
‘These significant existing trees, which are of public amenity value, contribute to the character and appearance of the conservation area.’
The Council approved Ricky and his 63-year-old wife Jane Fallon, but they acknowledged that the court would only be used seldom for “one-to-one tennis coaching.”
But planning manager Lesley Feldman dismissed any concerns about the tennis court.
The delegated report stated: ‘This will not self-evidently be a commercial tennis court and the intension of the applicant is simply for the facility to provide an opportunity for one- to-one tennis coaching.
‘As a purely domestic activity, it is not considered that there would be any detrimental noise issues likely to arise from its implementation.
Other matters referred to by objectors, such as stray tennis balls and ‘spectators’, again fall under civil matters and should not be considered planning issues.’
