Neighbours of singer Rita Ora have lodged formal objections with Camden Council after plans to build a gym in the sunken garden of her Primrose Hill home prompted complaints that the work would damage a long‑standing natural habitat and the listed property’s character.
The proposed alterations would affect outdoor features that neighbours say have been in place for nearly 150 years at the Grade II‑listed house, which the singer paid about £7.5 million for four years ago. Objectors described the design as an eyesore and accused the owner of hypocrisy for seeking to replace a historic garden space with a modern facility.
In a letter to Camden Council accompanying the objections, neighbours referenced an earlier piece the singer wrote for Architectural Digest in which she praised the garden, and said the current proposals would be at odds with that public description. "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 [that] have been sighted there over the years," the letter states. "To destroy the natural ecology in order to build a modern gym is entirely out of keeping with the heritage and calm of this particular listed property itself."
The objections highlight the garden’s long history and the protections often afforded to structures and settings associated with Grade II‑listed buildings. Listed status means that changes affecting the character or appearance of the property and its grounds typically require listed‑building consent and, in many cases, planning permission from the local authority.
The council planning process allows neighbours and other interested parties to comment on proposals and raise concerns about heritage, biodiversity and visual impact. The documents submitted by objectors cite the garden’s wildlife and historic landscaping as reasons the scheme should be refused or substantially amended.
Representatives for Rita Ora did not make any immediate public statement about the objections in published reports. Camden Council’s planning department had not announced a decision on the matter in the reports detailing the neighbours’ complaints.
Alterations to prominent homes in conservation areas and listed settings often draw scrutiny from residents and heritage groups, who argue that such changes can erode features of local historic significance. The objections in this case note both the ecological value residents attribute to the sunken garden and the expectation that owners of listed properties will preserve long‑standing elements of their setting.
The council will consider the submitted objections alongside any formal application or listed‑building consent paperwork. Any decision will be determined under the local authority’s planning procedures, which take account of heritage guidance and statutory protections for listed buildings.