Grand Designs houses now from happy end for 'saddest house' to that water tower
For more than two decades Kevin McCloud has been trying his utmost to make peoples’ dreams come true by helping them build their ideal home on Grand Designs. But unfortunately it’s not always plain sailing. Building a home from scratch, or renovating a rundown building can lead to all sorts of issues including problems securing planning permission and projects costing thousands - sometimes even millions - more than initially expected.
Over the last 24 years, we’ve seen all kinds of hurdles thrown at the couples taking part in the Channel 4 programme and sadly some of them have even ended up divorcing and going their separate ways due to the stress of renovations. From the £10m Cliff House in Devon to the Rockhouse Retreat built in a cave, we take a look at what happened next to some of the most iconic houses and their owners.
Chesil Cliff House and The Eye
The Chesil Cliff House is in the process of being sold (Match Property)Not only did it cost a staggering £10m to build but it also cost developer Edward Short his marriage to wife Hazel. Sitting right on the cliff edge, this stunning property has triple-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the sea and an infinity pool. The building of his home was only supposed to take 18 months but took ten years - leaving the owner with £7m in debt. The potential sale of Chesil Cliff House in Croyde, Devon along with the annexe, The Eye is currently being discussed with a buyer, according to latest reports although it’s still being listed on Rightmove for a cool £6.5m.
Edward and Hazel's project was deemed the "saddest ever" by viewers as their story featured on the programme. However, the sad story may finally have a happy ending as the clifftop mansion has been taken off the market, with terms of a sale now being discussed. The stunning property, which is even said to have caught the eye of Harry Styles, has been on sale for £10 million since July last year. However, a mystery buyer is reported to have entered sale talks over getting the keys to the Devon pad, the Daily Star has reported.
The Eco Barge
The Medway Eco-barge was found washed up on a beach (Alamy Stock Photo)The Medway Eco-Barge became very famous in 2007, when it was featured on an episode of Grand Designs. Chris Miller and his wife Sze Liu Lai were hoping to move out of London with their two children to live on a houseboat they were renovating from recycled materials. Unfortunately, the £80,000 project ran into problems and their 100ft boat was left unfinished in the Thames estuary near Southend. Vandals wrecked it causing £70,000 worth of damage by using it as a base for raves and parties for years before setting it loose from its moorings in 2011.
'I'm spending £20k on a new bathroom - but won't help my brother out with cash'
It was later found washed up on a beach in Essex and the good news is it has now been bought and is currently being renovated by its new owners. Sarah and Rob Burch told reporters there was a lot of work to do to get it up to scratch but they were prepared for the hard graft and unlike its previous owners they had drawn out proper plans.
The London water tower
The London Water Tower has fantastic views of the city (Channel 4)The London water tower was originally built in 1867 before appearing on the 100th episode of Grand Designs in 2012. Charlie Chaplin lived there with his mother in the 19th century but decades later it was left to rot. In 2010, property developer Leigh Osborne and his partner Graham Voce bought it for £380,000 planning to turn it into a family home. However, it ended up costing the couple a lot more than they thought it would.
The pair originally expected to invest around £600,000 but ended up forking out £2m on the project. In 2018, the house was put on the market for £6.5m, with the price dropping to £2.75m in 2021. It was eventually bought by Jamie Hamer and housemate Susanna for an undisclosed sum.
The Rockhouse Retreat
The Rockhouse Retreat is available for rent (Publicity Picture)Remember the Rockhouse Retreat which appeared on Channel 4's Grand Designs in 2015? Former businessman Angelo Mastropietro bought the unique cave house hidden among the hills of Worcestershire, spending £100,000 on fitting underfloor heating, making sure it had running water and high-speed Wi-Fi. The story of this house has a happy ending as it’s now completed and is available to rent for a romantic getaway. It might be a cave but it has a generous bedroom with a king sized bed and wood burning stove, as well as a cosy sitting room and a fully fitted kitchen. While anyone can pay to stay there - prices start from £248 per night and the owners describe it as a 'perfect romantic retreat' for honeymoons, marriage proposals and special occasions.
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