The star and his wife have stressed that the move is down to ‘family reasons’
Ant McPartlin and his wife, Anne-Marie, are reportedly moving out of their Wimbledon home of six years following a row with furious neighbours over trees. The property is valued at £6 million, with the presenter believed to have invested a substantial sum in renovations.
The I’m A Celebrity presenter relocated to the home in 2019. He and his wife are understood to have invested thousands in extensive refurbishments and enhancements, including installing a swimming pool and constructing two single-storey extensions.
Located in Wimbledon, South London, the residence boasts seven bedrooms, five reception areas, a cinema, conservatory, walk-in wardrobe, study and office, alongside a spacious kitchen and Victorian-style pool changing facilities.
In February 2024, it emerged that additional renovation plans had necessitated consent to remove four cypress trees, a pine tree and a yew tree. Despite these trees being safeguarded by a Tree Preservation Order, approval was granted.
This reportedly infuriated local residents, who wrote objection letters condemning the pair for seeking to fell healthy trees with “no justification”, reports the Mirror.
One letter stated: “‘No justification is given for felling these substantial trees, other than the applicant’s wish to allow re-landscaping of part of their garden.”
The author continued that there was “no suggestion” the trees posed risks or were diseased, and the “personal whim” of the applicant should not supersede the “benefit to the community” of preserving the trees. Ant and Anne-Marie submitted revised plans for an extension to their existing garden rooms, ensuring all six trees would be preserved.
Their planning agent highlighted in the design statement that while approval had been granted for the removal of the trees, the couple were content to retain all six and build around them instead.
The new design proposed the extension to be constructed on a special screw-pile foundation attached to a timber frame with a suspended floor, allowing the rooms to be “nestled” within the trees. To facilitate this, the lower branches of three trees would need to be removed, but it was not believed to be detrimental to their health or stability.
A tree expert assessed the viability of the plans in a report, stating: “‘It is my opinion that the method of construction proposed by the tree owners is the least impactive possible. It clearly demonstrates the property owners are going over and above to minimise ground disturbance.”
However, a year later, it’s reported that the couple have abandoned their plans to extend the property and are instead looking to relocate. A source told the Daily Mail: “They sank hundreds of thousands of pounds into their dream home but have now decided to go somewhere else. It’s surprising after all that they spent on the place but Ant’s got plenty of money to sink into their next home and make it just how they want.”
A spokesperson for Ant clarified: “Ant and Anne-Marie are not moving because of planning issues, they are moving for family reasons.”
Prior to his Wimbledon residence, Ant was neighbours with his telly partner Declan Donnelly in Chiswick. He shared his Chiswick home with makeup artist Lisa Armstrong, but following their split, Ant moved out, leaving the property to his former wife.
Ant’s representatives were contacted by The Mirror for further comment.
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