Neighbours of singer Rita Ora have lodged objections with Camden Council over plans to build a large gym in the sunken garden of her £7.5 million Primrose Hill home, saying the proposal would destroy historic landscaping and a delicate natural habitat.
The objections, filed by nearby residents, say the plans would rip up outdoor features that have stood for nearly 150 years at the Grade II‑listed property Ora bought about four years ago. In a letter to the council, neighbours called the scheme "an eyesore" and accused the owner of threatening the garden's ecology.
The letter to Camden Council quotes comments attributed to Ora about wanting to "preserve and honour the heritage of this sunken garden," calling it "a sanctuary for butterflies" and for birds including robins, herons and, the neighbours wrote, peacocks that have been sighted there over the years. The complaint adds: "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 characterize the proposal as inconsistent with previous statements by the owner praising the garden and her stated interest in conservation. Neighbours said the gym — described in the objections as "gargantuan" — would intrude on the character and appearance of the historic sunken garden and damage the ecology that has matured there over more than a century.
The property is Grade II listed, a designation that recognises its special architectural or historic interest and typically requires that alterations affecting the building or its setting secure consent through the local planning process. Neighbourhood objections form part of that process and will be considered by Camden Council when assessing any application affecting the listed site or its grounds.
Representatives for Ora did not immediately provide comment when the neighbours' objections were reported. The singer, who has previously been public about environmental concerns and about her home's garden in interviews and features, bought the property four years ago.
The dispute highlights tensions that can arise when owners of historic properties propose changes to private grounds, with residents and heritage advocates often weighing preservation of original features and natural habitats against owners' plans for modernization and private amenities. Camden Council will consider the objections alongside any formal plans submitted for the site as it determines whether proposed works are acceptable under planning and listed‑building controls.