Australian television personality Andy Lee has found himself at the centre of a furious neighbourhood dispute after embarking on an astonishing £2.5 million renovation of his luxury Melbourne property. The massive project has left nearby residents fuming over nearly two years of relentless construction noise, dust, and what they describe as a complete loss of privacy.
Neighbourhood Outcry Over Celebrity Renovation
Local residents have expressed their frustration to Daily Mail Australia, revealing that the extensive works have transformed their quiet street into what feels like a permanent construction site. The project, which includes adding a full-sized tennis court and multiple luxury amenities, has been ongoing since 2022 with no clear end in sight.
One exasperated neighbour shared: "We've been living with this chaos for almost two years now. The noise is constant, the dust gets everywhere, and we've completely lost our privacy with workers constantly overlooking our properties."
Extravagant Features Spark Controversy
The scale of Lee's renovation has raised eyebrows even in the affluent neighbourhood known for its multi-million pound properties. Planning documents reveal the project includes:
- A full-sized professional tennis court
- Multiple entertainment areas and outdoor spaces
- Extensive landscaping and garden redesign
- Significant structural changes to the existing property
Local authorities have confirmed the renovation's staggering valuation at approximately £2.5 million, a figure that has only added to residents' frustrations about the scale and duration of the works.
Construction Impact on Daily Life
Neighbours describe the situation as particularly challenging during Melbourne's frequent lockdown periods, when residents were forced to remain at home while construction continued unabated. The constant presence of workers and machinery has fundamentally changed the character of what was once a peaceful residential street.
"It's been especially difficult during lockdowns when we couldn't escape the noise," another resident explained. "We understand people want to improve their homes, but this has been excessive in both scale and duration."
Celebrity Status Adds to Tensions
The fact that the renovation involves a high-profile television personality has added another layer to the neighbourhood tensions. Lee, best known as one half of the popular radio duo Hamish & Andy, purchased the property for £3.6 million in 2019 before embarking on the massive overhaul.
Despite multiple attempts to contact Lee's representatives for comment, no response has been received regarding the neighbours' complaints or the project's timeline for completion.
The situation highlights the growing tensions between celebrity homeowners undertaking extensive renovations and their neighbours who must endure the prolonged disruption to their quiet enjoyment of their own properties.
