Ricky Gervais’ neighbors are not thrilled with his plans to install a “loud” tennis court with fan seats at his new $27 million home.
The comedian spent a fortune on the seven-bedroom house, which includes a cinema, bar, gym, steam room, sauna and cellar.
But now The Office star, 63, wants to tear down his garden and replace it with a new permeable sports surface “for a casual game of tennis”. He also outlined plans to demolish a basketball court, water wall, pergolas and retaining walls as part of a Ground Forces-style renovation.
But the proposals have been met with a range of objections from neighbours, citing noise and loss of privacy and trees in the designated conservation area.
They fear the pitch could also be used for five-a-side football and cause flooding in leafy north London. In a letter to the local council, a neighbor wrote: “It’s not just the balls that are hit or thrown in front of the service that will be noisy.
“During practice, a machine that throws balls over the net is even louder. The players make noise when they talk or address each other.
“From time to time, the spectators would stare, scream and cheer.
“There is an arrangement of seats along our fence so that many spectators can watch the game.”
The number of seats is not mentioned. “There are no fences around the field, so there is a risk of being hit by a badly hit ball. “We will not be able to enjoy our garden and house in peace as long as they are used,” added the neighbor.
Planning officer Gervais said: “This new lawn has no fencing or lighting and has been designed to be visually and acoustically disturbed by neighbours.”
Barnet Council officials are expected to make a decision later this month.