Ant McPartlin and his wife Anne-Marie are moving out of their £6million home a year after losing a planning battle to fell six trees when angry neighbours objected.
The couple moved to the seven-bedroom mansion in 2019 – a year after they got together – and spent a fortune on major refurbishments, including a swimming pool with Victorian-style changing rooms and two single-storey extensions.
The three-storey luxury home in Wimbledon also has five reception rooms, a large open-plan kitchen, cinema, sun room, larder, walk-in wardrobe, study and office.
They had been given permission to cut down four cypress trees, a Weymouth pine and a yew, despite them being protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), it emerged in February last year.
But neighbours accused them of setting out to fell healthy trees at their leafy home, it was reported at the time.
An objection letter from one neighbour read: ‘No justification is given for felling these substantial trees, other than the applicant’s wish to allow re-landscaping of part of their garden.
‘There is no suggestion that any of the trees are dangerous or diseased.
‘The personal whim of the applicant should not override the benefit to the community and the environment in retaining these trees.’
Ant McPartlin and his wife Anne-Marie Corbett are moving out of their £6million home in Wimbledon, it can be revealed today
Ant McPartlin’s luxury south London home, which he shares with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett – the couple recently lost a planning battle over the felling of six trees that were subject to a protection order
On social media, Ant and Dec previously shared this picture of McPartlin’s living room which features a blue L-shaped sofa and a panelled wall painted in an eggshell blue
As a result, the couple – who were expecting their first child at the time – submitted revised plans to extend existing garden rooms being used as a gym, games room, study and studio – but keeping all six trees.
In a design statement, their planning agent said: ‘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.
‘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.
‘The garden buildings will be ancillary to the main house and used for occasional leisure activities.
‘The combined new garden buildings will be heavily screened from view and will have limited visual presence and therefore will not have an adverse impact on the host property and adjoining properties.’
The proposed garden rooms were to be built on special screw-pile foundations fixed to a timber frame with a suspended floor for the cabins, ‘nestled’ within the existing trees.
Lower branches of three trees would be removed to make way for the new structures but would not be harmful to their health or stability, according an arboricultural impact assessment.
In his report, a tree expert said: ‘It is my opinion that the method of construction proposed by the tree owners is the least impactive possible.
McPartlin was also embroiled in a planning row with the council over a past planning application to replace the property’s car port (pictured) with a ‘double garage with room in the roof’
In 2020, Covid-19 restrictions meant Ant and Dec had to present their show Saturday Night Takeaway from home, with the stars coming live from their sofas and offering a sneak peek into their homes
‘It clearly demonstrates the property owners are going over and above to minimise ground disturbance.’
But 18 months on, the couple – who have occasionally offered glimpses of their home on their social media accounts – have decided to move to an as-yet undisclosed new home.
A source said: ‘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.’
The couple married in 2021 after McPartlin split up with Strictly make-up artist Lisa Armstrong, who he tied the knot with in 2006.
Before the move to SW19, McPartlin had lived next door to TV partner Declan Donnelly in Chiswick for years.
But after the break-up McPartlin left the home to Armstrong and moved out to SW19, where he would often be seen walking his dogs – including a Labrador named Hurley, who he shares with his ex.
McPartlin met Donnelly when they were both child actors on Byker Grove in 1990 and they have worked together ever since, on programmes including I’m A Celebrity, Britain’s Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway.
McPartlin moved to his new home with wife Anne-Marie after splitting up with Strictly make-up artist Lisa Armstrong, who he tied the knot with in 2006 (Pictured: McPartlin and Armstrong in 2015)
McPartlin’s career appeared to be in tatters following a 2018 arrest for drink-driving close to his London home.
The presenter was pictured looking dishevelled and out of sorts after colliding with a BMW following a dog walk in nearby Richmond Park.
Dr Audrey Ng was driving the BMW he ploughed into while twice the legal alcohol limit. He also hit another Mini and the four-year-old passenger needed hospital treatment.
Her son – who was in the back seat – later told her the Mini came ’round the corner like a rocket.’
The star was already in the midst of a troublesome year having sought treatment for an addiction to painkillers and confirmed his separation from wife Ms Armstrong.
Then ITV cancelled Saturday Night Takeaway so he could enter residential rehabilitation for a second time.
A statement on behalf of McPartlin and Donnelly confirmed he was taking a break from his on-screen duties.
McPartlin was later handed a record £86,000 drink-drive fine – thought to be the highest financial penalty ever handed out by a British court for drink-driving – topping the £54,000 imposed on footballer Yaya Toure in 2016 for the same offence.
District Judge Barbara Barnes told him: ‘You were struggling with personal problems and issues with alcohol and that had been going on for some months.
‘Your level of driving was unacceptable that day. You recognise you have let down so many people, your friends, family and colleagues.’
Asked how long it would take to pay the massive fine, McPartlin’s barrister said: ‘Two to five days’.
As he left Wimbledon Magistrates Court after being given the fine, the presenter told reporters: ‘I let myself down. I let a lot of people down and for that I’m truly sorry.’
Holly Willoughby took his place alongside Donnelly for the following series of Australia-based reality show I’m A Celebrity.
But in January 2019 – ten months after his fall from grace – he made an emotional return to work as Britain’s Got Talent auditions got underway in London.
He later confirmed his engagement to former PA Anne-Marie, in January 2021 after proposing on Christmas Eve.
The couple announced the birth of their son Wilder in May 2024. Anne-Marie also has two daughters from a previous relationship.
Representatives for McPartlin were contacted for comment.
