MICAH Richards is making a massive change to his £2million mansion – months after his neighbours moaned about the property.
The ex-Man City star and current TV pundit, 36, was previously met with neighbour moans after he submitted plans to extend his luxury five-bed pad.
Despite uproar, officials made a decision in his favour and allowed renovations to go ahead.
And now he wants to demolish an existing “poorly erected” conservatory to make way for a contemporary-style flat roof extension with steel cladding.
Richards submitted plans for works on the lavish property, in North Yorkshire, which already boasts a cinema room, to provide “additional space that meets the needs of the occupants”.
In an application submitted to the local council, Richards’ planning agent said: “The extension enhances the visual appearance of the existing building.
“It also enhances the visual impact of the surrounding environment.
“The extension also improves the functionality of the existing building, providing additional space that meets the needs of the occupants.
“This includes adding new living areas and outdoor areas that enhance the usability and convenience of the home.
“The proposals will also provide a high quality family home for modern living.”
And officials have now granted the ex-baller’s plans.
The council said: “In most cases, flat roof extensions will not be supported where they detract from the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
“There have been many alterations and ‘domestification’ of the host dwelling… [but while it’s] of differing architectural style, it is of subservient portions and would not dominate the south elevation.
“Overall, the development will not detract from the appearance of the host dwelling nor character of the area.”
Richards bought his rural retreat for £1.3million in 2021 after hanging up his boots.
But it is now believed to be worth £2million.
Two years ago, he won his battle with neighbours to convert a home office outbuilding into an annex, and carry out internal alterations.
He also built extra accommodation on the first floor with two new dormer windows and five rooflights, despite objections about overlooking.
Richards’ agent added: “The proposed extension is intended to present as a subtle addition to the existing house, that also amends a poor previously erected extension, tying the house together.
“The design opens the ground floor internally to the rear with better access from the existing living spaces to the improved garden.
“This will provide a much higher standard of accommodation in line with the need of a growing family along with improved amenity through better access to the garden and increased natural light internally.”
Officials at the local council are expected to make a decision next month.
So far, there have been no objections from neighbours.
BIG SPENDER
Richards has previously opened up about his big-spending while playing in the Premier League – and issued a warning to today’s superstars.
The pundit burst onto the scene at Manchester City in 2005 – signing a big-money contract in the same year – aged just 17.
Richards revealed he came into so much money overnight he impulsively spent it.
The fan-favourite pundit bought supercars, a luxury mansion in the footballers’ paradise of Hale and even splashed out over £100,000 on a single night out.
Speaking to The Athletic, Richards explained: “Imagine going from £500 a week to £5,000 a week… and then going from £5,000 a week to £50,000 a week.
“Then you’d get bonuses, appearance money, a signing-on fee that was spread over the length of the contract.
“I remember one pay packet was like “£250,000 for a month. I was at the training ground, just looking at my payslip, thinking, ‘Wow. How?’
“What can you do? I know what I did. I went straight out and bought myself a Ferrari.
“I already had a Range Rover and an Aston Martin, but I thought, ‘It’s time’. I bought myself a Ferrari, an F430. Then a 458 Speciale.”
But the spending didn’t stop with cars. Richards continued: “I started to look at houses in Hale.
“I bought this £3m, seven-bedroom house and I was living with two brothers, two cousins, my best mate.
“Where I was living was already more than enough, but this is what happens when you’re a footballer.
“It’s always, ‘Who has the best house? Who has the best car?’.
“You can never just be content. You’ve always got to want more.”
Richards’ reps have been contacted for comment.
Premier League star in neighbour row over basketball court & firepit built
A PREMIER League star in an intense row with his neighbour over a basketball court and firepit has won a battle to keep them.
Ben Chilwell, 27, became embroiled in the disagreement when he raised the back garden of his £5m Surrey mansion and erected a retaining wall for a new walkway.
But the Chelsea defender failed to get the go-ahead for the Ground Force-style makeover at his luxury five-bed pad which boasts a swimming pool, gym and two games rooms.
He needed consent from the local council for the “engineering operation” and faced a possible red card over the unauthorised development.
His next-door neighbour objected, citing loss of privacy and overlooking, but the council have now granted retrospective permission for the landscape alterations.
In his ruling, a planning officer said: “Despite the change in levels in this part of the garden, it is considered that the works do not significantly alter the overall land levels of the application site.
“Moreover, the works are located in the rear garden and would not be visible from the street scene and are therefore acceptable.
“The proposed development is considered in terms of scale, form, bulk, height, massing, spacing and design, and there would be no adverse impact on the character of the area or the visual amenities of the street scene as a result of the proposals.”
Chilwell wants to plant new laurel and yew hedges to provide screening with further soft planting in grey, green and purple – but no blue.
He also wants to splash out on a stone-stepped pool seating area with glass balustrade, and new paving at his home near Chelsea’s Cobham training ground.
Documents submitted as part of the planning application reveal that building work on the sunken fire pit and basketball court started in April but has not yet been completed.
In a letter objecting, the neighbour wrote: “This increase in height means someone in this section of the garden or on the firepit walkway now has direct line of sight into our garden, terrace and kitchen area.
“This is a loss of amenity and the new levels mean we are now overlooked.
“We are keen to retain the privacy and amenity of our home, terrace and garden and whilst we would prefer the new ground levels not to be so high we appreciate that some mitigation through screening foliage has now been proposed.”
