Nudists fear flats development will spoil naked tennis by overlooking their court

Tennis-playing nudists have complained their way of life may be “destroyed” by a tower block overlooking their court.

Members of naturist club The White House are fighting proposals for a large complex of 36 flats next to the tennis court on their grounds in Whyteleafe, a commuter village in Surrey.

Club chairman Val Humfress told the Standard that while members were happy to be seen in the nude, they liked to know who was watching – and some did not want to be outed as naked tennis enthusiasts due to their “sensitive jobs”.

She said the club – founded more than 80 years ago – could be jeopardised as a “safe haven” for its 300 members by overlooking windows and balconies wrecking their privacy.

“There are lots of people here who choose not to wear clothes while playing tennis but they want to know who they will be seen by, they don’t want people spying on them," she said.

“I come here as it’s a nice safe haven, but I would not walk naked down the high street.

“I don’t personally keep it a secret that I come here, but there are some people in sensitive jobs who don’t want it broadcast around, or to have photos taken and shoved on the internet.”

She added: "We know people need houses, but we don't want it to destroy our way of life."

The club is based in a large Victorian building and also boasts an outdoor swimming pool and badminton court, as well as a bar and a billiards room, but the proposed development would overlook the popular tennis court.

Several members have lodged formal objections with Tandridge District Council including club secretary David Mason, who said the court was “very popular with members, who naturally prefer to play unclothed in the privacy of our gardens”.

In a letter to the council, the developer said landscaping would be incorporated into the scheme.

The council has previously required proposed developments close to The White House to have frosted non-opening windows.