Ricky Gervais has been defeated in a planning dispute over his desire to demolish his flood-prone mansion. The 63-year-old creator of 'The Office' had submitted plans to replace his existing three-bedroom property, which is located next to the River Thames in London and has been flooded at least five times since 1947, with a new four-bedroom, neo-classical home worth £5 million. However, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead refused to grant permission for his project earlier this month, according to Mail Online.
The publication reported that officials rejected the comedian's application on the grounds that it did not comply with local and national planning guidelines. Ricky reportedly included CCTV images in his planning application showing how the main entrance of his current riverside home, as well as his garage and back garden, were submerged underwater earlier this year. He had hoped to build a house on the site that would have featured an open-plan kitchen and a dining area with views of the Thames.
His plans for the two-storey residence which Ricky has referred to as his 'little country retreat' also allegedly included a home gym, drawing room, plant area and cloakroom. Parish councillors reportedly described the proposed development as "inappropriate" because it was on green belt land and too close to the neighbouring house, according to the Mail. Ricky's planning agent argued in a submission: "The existing dwelling is of poor design quality, performs poorly in.