Ricky Gervais’ proposed new home on the banks of the River Thames is at risk of flooding which could result in ‘loss of life’, the Environment Agency has warned.
The comedian will have to gain a special flood permit and has been advised to sign up to a helpline if his plans are approved to demolish a £6M home in Marlow and replace it with a swanky mansion.
The Environment Agency is issuing the words of warning after previously objecting to Ricky’s first planning application, which was refused in February, and he submitted a fresh one in September.
One of the major issues blocking Ricky’s bid to build a new home, complete with gym and tennis court, is the risk of flooding, which even his own experts admit is a problem.
The Environment Agency has responded to Ricky’s team filing a flood risk assessment and said the depth of a potential flood could reach levels of just under one and a half metres – only slightly less than Ricky’s own height of 1m 73cm.
Without evacuation procedures in place, the government agency warns that it could be fatally dangerous to the public and emergency services.
The doc adds: ‘We have considered the findings of the flood risk assessment in relation to the likely duration, depths, velocities and flood hazard rating against the design flood for the proposal.
‘We agree that this indicates that there will be a danger for all people (e.g. there will be danger of loss of life for the general public and the emergency services).’
Ricky’s flood experts created a report which admitted the issue, but said a ‘warning and evacuation plan will be prepared’ for Ricky and partner Jane Fallon.
The report concedes: ‘Flood depths on the site are expected to exceed 1 metre during the design flood event. Therefore, safe access from the site to an area outside the floodplain is not available.’
In the event of a ‘flood event’, the house itself ‘will be elevated to above the flood level’ and ‘create a safe haven during a flood’.
The Environment Agency has advised Ricky and Jane to phone the helpline Floodline and register for a ‘flood warning’, which cautions anyone close to flooded rivers or seas.
The agency also said that they will ‘require a Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) to undertake the proposed works as the main river, the River Thames, runs adjacent to the site.
Further saying: ‘The applicant would need to demonstrate that the proposed works will not adversely impact on flood risk or the watercourse.’
Ricky is already having to obtain a bat licence from Natural England after 333 soprano pipistrelle bats were recorded emerging from the dwelling back in 2023.
The local authority said ‘a peak of 276 bats were seen to emerge in 2025.’
It is also likely the After Life creator will have to build a new bat loft in his garage, as well as erecting two bat boxes in nearby trees, in line with the Bat Mitigation Strategy.
Ricky bought the property in 2014 for £2.75M million. The residence is now reputedly valued at more than £4 million.
He has an extensive property portfolio including a £14.75 million mansion with nine bedrooms, a spa and tennis court in a leafy conservation area in north London, as well as his Marlow riverside home.
Ricky also reportedly has two apartments on New York’s Upper East Side which he bought for £1.1million in 2008 and £2.5million in 2011.
The comedian previously sparked a row with neighbours at his former £7.7million home in Hampstead, north London after he dug out a basement to add an underground gym and indoor pool.
