Ant McPartlin and his wife Anne-Marie are reportedly moving out of their £6million mansion.
The I’m A Celebrity star, who will be returning to the show later this month, and his wife moved into the home in 2019, but lost a battle with their neighbours last year over proposed plans to fell six trees at the property.
Now, it’s said the couple are set to leave the property, having invested a lot of money into refurbishments including a swimming pool complete with Victorian-style changing rooms.
The three storey Wimbledon boasts five reception rooms, a cinema, sun room, open plan kitchen, study, office and more.
They were initially given permission to fell six trees – four cypress trees, a Weymouth pine and a yew – before neighbours criticised the proposal and insisted there was ‘no justification’ for the plans.
The trees are also protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), and a neighbour argued in an objection letter that ‘the benefit to the community and the environment in retaining these trees’ shouldn’t be overruled by ‘the personal whim of the applicant’.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the couple have now decided to move on from the property.
‘They sank hundreds of thousands of pounds into their dream home but have now decided to go somewhere else,’ a source said.
‘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.’
After the initial backlash from neighbours, Ant and Anne-Marie instead proposed keeping the trees, but extending garden rooms used as a games room, studio, study and gym.
‘Approval has been granted by the council for the removal of all the trees at the end of the garden bar one large yew along the northern boundary,’ their planning agent said last year.
‘The applicant wishes to keep all the trees in place and build around the trees with a “floating” lightweight structure on the higher ground at the end of the garden.’
They insisted the new plans would not ‘have an adverse impact on the host property and adjoining properties’.
A tree expert added in his report: ‘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.’
Metro has contacted Ant McPartlin’s representatives for comment.
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