He is a cornerstone of Thomas Tuchel’s plans to end England’s decades of World Cup hurt.
Now Bukayo Saka is preparing to lay a few cornerstones of his own after winning permission to build a spectacular £4million mansion – despite a furious backlash from his new neighbours.
The Arsenal winger, 24, has been given the green light to demolish a mock-Tudor bungalow in an affluent Hertfordshire village and replace it with a sprawling, high-spec home described as the ultimate footballer’s pad.
Plans for the lavish property include an underground swimming pool, sauna and private gym – enabling the Premier League star to train without stepping beyond his front door.
There will also be a vast master suite, three double-bedrooms, a games room and – naturally – a dedicated boot room.
However, the development has proved deeply unpopular with residents of the secluded road, which lies in a protected conservation area.
Eleven neighbours formally objected to the plans, fearing the proposed mansion would tower over nearby properties and appear wholly out of character with its surroundings.
One resident warned in planning documents obtained by the Daily Mail: ‘The overall size of the development in this pretty road is overbearing and out of keeping with its neighbours.’
Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka pictured with his girlfriend Tolami Benson
Plans for the lavish property include an underground swimming pool, sauna and private gym
Another said of the proposed home: ‘This building is much higher than surrounding houses. The roof limit should be set at the same height to preserve the character of the road.’
While a third objector told council planners: ‘The proposed house is vastly bigger than surrounding properties and is out of keeping with the rest of the streetscape.
‘The height of the building – it would tower over its neighbours and ruin the look of the road.’
Residents on the exclusive cul-de-sac – known for its inter-war mock-Tudor homes – – raised fears that Saka’s mansion would overlook their homes and gardens.
One objection stated: ‘The front and rear first-floor balconies are unprecedented… causing an invasion of privacy as well as restriction of daylight.’
Another described Saka’s proposed front balcony as ‘unprecedented, out of character and invasive’.
Residents also challenged the description of the development as a four-bedroom home.
They claimed the plans showed five bedrooms, including a room in the habitable loft, while parts of the ground floor could later be converted into sleeping accommodation to create a sixth.
One neighbour wrote: ‘The plans state that this is a four bedroom house when in actual fact there are five bedrooms and ample opportunity for increasing that number even further.’
Another resident argued that the more modest bungalow should be preserved because it was within walking distance of local shops and could provide a suitable home for an older person.
They described it as ‘an amenity to be valued and preserved’ rather than demolished.
Neighbours also raised fears about flooding, heavy construction traffic and damage to the private road.
One warned: ‘We have had considerable problems with water run off, numerous HGVs damaging the road and antisocial working hours with a property two doors down – please don’t let that be repeated for another 12 month period.’
Despite the wave of objections, planning officers ultimately sided with Saka, ruling that the mansion would not harm the neighbourhood or the living conditions of surrounding residents.
Hertsmere Borough Council concluded: ‘The proposed dwelling is not considered to be harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area and would cause no harm to residential amenity.’
Permission to demolish the bungalow was first granted three years ago, although an earlier version of the proposed mansion was judged too tall and ‘overly dominant’.
Saka’s architects returned with scaled-back designs that were considered acceptable by council officials.
The star has also submitted revised plans to build a 6ft fence to boost security and privacy after helping Arsenal win their first Premiership title since 2004.
His planning agent said: ‘It is proposed to retain the existing mature hedges to the boundaries, supplementing this with additional hedge planting where necessary, and to erect a green security fence inside the hedge line.’
Officials are expected to make a decision on this additional request next month and there have so far been no fresh objections from neighbours.
Land Registry documents reveal that Saka bought the bungalow for £1.3million in 2023 but the new build is expected to be worth at least £4million.
He also owns a £2.3million six-bedroom house nearby with a football pitch and garden gym including a treatment room, which he shares with fiancee Tolami Benson, 25.
The Arsenal star is celebrating his first Premier League title and is seen as a first choice attacker for England – though only came on as a substitute in the Three Lions impressive opening 4-2 win over Croatia and goalless draw with Ghana.
