Rita Ora leaves neighbours furious as she wins battle over gym at $15.2m mansion

Rita Ora has left neighbours furious after winning a battle over a gym at her £7.5 million ($A15.2 million) mansion.

The singer, 34, has won planning permission for a controversial gym despite protests from her neighbours, The Sun reports.

A number of residents and local groups were up in arms about plans for the fitness facility at the bottom of her garden in a strict conservation area.

They branded the gym an “eyesore” and “entirely out of keeping” with the Grade II-listed property, which she bought for £7.5 million ($A15.2 million) in North London four years ago.

Her whole road and two neighbouring streets wrote a joint complaint to the local council expressing their anger at her plans.

Their objection states the singer has publicly spoken out about her love of the outdoors and her plans will lead to the destruction of the delicate natural habitat.

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Rita Ora resides in a lavish multimillion-dollar mansion. Picture: YouTube/Architectural Digest

Her neighbours are furious that she won a planning permission battle. Picture: YouTube/Architectural Digest

Their objection states: “Ironically, the current owner has gone on record to say they wanted to preserve and honour the heritage of this sunken garden which they say is a sanctuary for butterflies and is also a sanctuary for many birds, including robins, herons and even peacocks have been sighted there over the years.

“To destroy the natural ecology [in] this area in order to build a modern gym is entirely out of keeping with the heritage and calm of this particular listed property itself.”

The letter links to a YouTube video made at Ora’s home for Architectural Digest and her starring and narrating in it, giving viewers a glimpse of its unique features.

She says of the garden: “Welcome to what I like to call my little piece of heaven.

“What I love most about the garden is that it’s full of flowers. I love flowers.

“My gardener’s amazing. He and I have sat here for hours deciding what we want, how we want it. I’m just so proud of us. Look how far we’ve come.”

The lavish pad is the one which she shares with her husband. Picture: YouTube/Architectural Digest

The singer is married to Taika Waititi. Picture: Getty

The home is featured on the Architectural Digest YouTube channel. Picture: YouTube/Architectural Digest

The Fifty Shades of Grey star shows off a historic fireplace, a real sundial, a pond, and a passageway which leads out into a grassy area with flowers, which she describes as “my green piece of secret heaven”.

Despite the protests, Ora was given the green light for her ambitious project as long as she produces tree protection and biodiversity plans.

The singer’s architects are proposing a garden room, which will be used as a gym, and sits 30m from the house.

A source close to Ora says: “Rita has no intention of disturbing the peace in her neighbourhood and has gone about everything in the proper manner.

“She wouldn’t have got permission from the council if she was violating any planning rules.”

But her plans have been strongly criticised by disgruntled neighbours.

The home has lavish elements throughout, and will now get a gym. Picture: YouTube/Architectural Digest

Neighbours have complained about the “artificial lighting and amplified sound” from Rita’s abode. Picture: YouTube/Architectural Digest

Some are concerned about the music and light being generated from the building late at night and early morning.

A block of flats nearby jointly complained, saying: “Residents who chose this area for its tranquillity should not be forced to live with artificial lighting, amplified sound or loss of privacy.

“Although acoustic insulation is mentioned, the inclusion of bi-fold doors suggests that music and voice projection could occur at any hour.

“The neighbouring property has a strict rule prohibiting large gatherings or parties, adopted precisely to preserve peace and respect among neighbours.

“This proposal undermines that shared understanding and carries the potential to generate conflict, complaints and even legal disputes.”

They go on to claim that Ora will be ruining the lives of neighbours, but not her own.

“This proposal has been drafted (deliberately or not) with minimum impact to the owner but with apparent disregard for the multiple adverse effects on surrounding neighbours,” reads the objection.

Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

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