Anger at Bob Ell’s Bellevue Hill tennis court plans

Billionaire property tycoon Bob Ell is used to getting what he wants. But he is facing a battle to get a new tennis court at his Bellevue Hill mansion — which he reportedly bought for $30 million in 2013 and is extending — following a dispute with neighbours.

Bob Ell is facing stiff opposition to plans for a tennis court at his Bellevue Hill home.

• Car wash king with $11.5m Point Piper plan
• Ticketed parking plan for Oxford Street

Property tycoon Bob Ell is used to getting what he wants.

With $1.56bn in the bank, properties across Australia and a wife 26 years his junior, he is the envy of most.

But the 73-year-old’s Christmas wish for a tennis court at his Bellevue Hill home looks set to be knocked back.

The Woollahra Local Planning Panel is recommended to refuse the development application at a meeting tomorrow.

Mr Ell bought his Addenbrooke mansion in exclusive Cranbrook Lane in 2013 for a reported $30 million.

Since then he has sought to alter the historic home to his liking.

A number of development applications have been submitted and subsequently accepted over the previous few years.

Mr Ell wants to rip up the current tennis court and build one much higher up

Notably he is in the process of building a new two storey addition to the property linking the main Federation home with a separate residential wing.

However, his $1.56 million plans for a new tennis court are causing him a headache.

A similar proposal was refused last year. Mr Ell challenged the decision in the Land and Environment Court in July but the judge found in Woollahra Council’s favour, saying the proposal would have a “detrimental and unacceptable impact” on the streetscape and character of the area.

Mr Ell is not giving up on his tennis court and has submitted plans once more. However planning officers have said the proposal “is consistent with that considered and dismissed” by the court.

In the process he is likely to have been taken off his immediate neighbours’ Christmas card lists, with both registering their objections with the council.

Mr Ell and Max Christmas at the 80th birthday party of developer Norm Rix.

Mr Ell already has a tennis court on his property, just above his garage.

Plans show he wants to rip up the current court and create an indoor space for rainwater tanks and other storage in its place.

He wants to build his new tennis court on top of this storage area.

Instead of installing standard fencing around the court he proposes putting in retractable “fencing curtains” to stop his balls flying into his neighbours’ gardens.

“It will be compatible with the streetscape of Cranbrook Road and will not give rise to any significant additional impacts on the amenity of the neighbouring properties,” Design Collaborative planning consultants, who are acting on his behalf, said.

His neighbours disagree.

Mr Ell’s home is one of the most sought after in Bellevue Hill

They argue the new higher tennis court would result in a loss of privacy. One neighbour said the new court would overlook their pool.

Planning officers have issued advice to refuse the application for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the maximum height of the new development is 12.2m, way above the 9.5m height restriction in the area.

“The proposal will result in unacceptable visual impact when viewed from the street and from adjoining properties,” they said in their report to the panel.

They also concluded it isn’t in harmony with the natural topography of the area and that it is not in the public interest.

Mr Ell will find out the fate of his planned tennis court at tomorrow’s Local Planning Panel.