January 6th 2024.
Barry Surtees’ home, The Curve Bristol, was once a dream project on Channel 4's Grand Designs. Many couples appear on the show to create a place that most of us can only imagine living in, but for some, the dream can quickly turn into a nightmare. This was the case for Edward and Hazel Short who appeared on the show in 2019 for their notorious project in Devon, Chesil Cliff House.
It was meant to be an 18-month project, but it turned into a decade-long ordeal. Edward and Hazel had to borrow an additional £2.5 million in 2016 to finish the property, and drilling into the cliffside rocks cost them an extra £1 million. The stress of the build took a toll on their marriage, and they split in 2018.
Edward eventually finished the house, but was unable to move in. He put it up for sale in July 2022, alongside an adjacent development called The Eye, which was listed for £2 million. Talks with a buyer fell through, and it was listed again in June 2023 for £7.5 million, and then reduced to £6.5 million in the autumn. It remains for sale at that price, but isn't currently listed online.
Edward's story isn't an isolated one: Sze Liu Lai and Chris Miller never managed to finish their home, and it now sits abandoned. The couple had intended to build an eco-friendly houseboat with an initial budget of £50,000, but they went 60% over budget and had to abandon their dream. Dean Marks, who appeared on the show in 2007, managed to complete his five bedroom home in Tipton, West Yorkshire, but his wife and him split just before the episode aired. He suffered two heart attacks, bone and ligament damage, and developed testicular cancer during the build.
Barry Surtees and his family also faced a health scare during the build of The Curve in Brighton. The idea of a curvy glass front had to be abandoned due to lack of availability, but the family managed to complete the four-story house. It's clear that the stories of those featured on Grand Designs aren't all happy endings, and the process of building a dream home can be more taxing than many of us realise.
Barry Surtees' home, The Curve Bristol, was the dream of many, and with Channel 4's Grand Designs to document the process, there was hope for those ambitious enough to start building their own home. Since the show first aired in 1999, viewers had been watching couples create amazing homes, but for some, the dream project became a nightmare of debt, divorce, and unfinished houses, all broadcast on national television.
One such example was the infamous Chesil Cliff House in Devon which appeared on Grand Designs in 2019. What was meant to be an 18-month project turned into a decade-long ordeal, costing Edward and Hazel Short £7 million in debt just to finish the home. The strain of the build put huge pressure on their relationship, and they eventually split up in 2018. Neighbours had compared the house to a 'North Korean missile bunker', but after years of labour, Edward, a father of two, finished the home.
However, he didn't get to move into it, due to the need to make a profit. The home was listed for sale in July 2022 for £8 million, with an adjacent development, The Eye, listed for £2 million. After discussions with a buyer fell through, the home was listed again in June 2023, this time for £7.5 million, and was reduced again to £6.5 million in the autumn. It is still listed at that price, but not online.
Edward wasn't the only one to suffer a disastrous build. Social workers Sze Liu Lai and Chris Miller never managed to finish their home, and it now sits abandoned. The couple had planned to build an eco-friendly houseboat, but with their £50,000 budget, they ended up spending £80,000. They had to jump ship and abandon their dream, as they were evicted from boatyards multiple times and had not started looking for a permanent mooring until a year into the project.
Dean Marks also faced a difficult build when he attempted to convert an 18th century St Martin's Church in Tipton, West Yorkshire, into a five-bedroom home for himself, his wife Hilary and daughter Abbie. Despite completing the home, Dean and Hilary split up just before the episode aired. He admitted to working hard on the project, and said he paid a small price in quality time with his wife. The long process to get planning permission and vandals hindering the project left Dean in a poor state, suffering two heart attacks and developing testicular cancer.
Finally, Barry Surtees, his wife Julie and their son faced a health scare during their build. The Curve in Brighton was designed to follow the contours of its surroundings, but the idea of a curvy glass front had to be abandoned after it couldn't be sourced.
Grand Designs can be a dream come true for many, but for some, it can become a nightmare. From financial strain to broken relationships, these stories prove that building your dream home can come with a huge price.
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