Grand Designs ‘castle’ sparks local fury after going on the market for nearly £8m
a mega Great Designs A project to build a modern “castle” at Wixford, near Stratford-Upon-Avon, has sparked backlash after some locals objected to what is believed to be the largest structure ever seen on the show.
The project in Wixford, Warwickshire, has been likened to a “prison”, “multi-storey car park” and “perversion”. Host Kevin McCloud also jokingly said you must be “out of your mind” to have such a large structure.
At 11,000 square metres, it is twice the size of the previous largest single-storey house, which was exhibited in Colgate, West Sussex, in 2015.
The couple behind it are entrepreneur Piers and police officer Emma. The first thing to raise eyebrows was the demolition of the existing building, a 17th-century folly that was later adapted into an arts-and-crafts-style house but fell into disrepair.
In its place the plans included a replacement tower, albeit of a modern design, complete with battlements and arrow slits. These included a one-sided “moat,” a basement pool, a “very large garage” and a separate lakeside office.
“So you’re destroying a fake castle to build a fake castle?” McCloud asks the couple.
“No,” says Piers, “This is a 21st century castle.”
After buying the old castle for £1.4 million because the prospect of the current owner building 60 houses on the site threatened their existing home, they initially planned to spend a further £2 million on new construction.
Despite calling on Channel 4 to record their progress, Piers is cautious about the public’s reaction to the plans. “I try not to tell people what I do because it sounds so over the top and so eccentric and I think people will think I’m a bit of a commercial***.”
Even before demolition begins, the program points to local concerns.
“The local villagers brought out their pitchforks,” says McCloud.
“I’m absolutely horrified,” one resident told the programme. “I can’t believe they would tear down such a beautiful building.”
“I’m devastated,” another said. “Whatever replaces him will be a tough task to follow.”
But this does not bother our brave builders. “It’s a scary-looking building,” says Piers. “And it’s covered in pebbles.”
Soon the bulldozers come in and the place turns into a pile of rubble.
The new building slowly grows upwards as problems big and small are overcome. Meanwhile, the budget increases to 5 million pounds by the end of the episode.
Unfortunately, viewers cannot see the completed castle. It’s not finished yet and Piers suggests another million pounds are still needed to finish it. And these figures don’t include the site’s initial £1.4 million.
“We put our hearts, our souls and everything financially into this,” says Emma.
The episode ends with McCloud vowing to return and see the couple living in their finished castle – but this now looks doubtful as the castle is now up for sale.
IT Listed with Sotheby’s Realty For £7.95 million, the listing states it will be “finally completed in 2025”.
according to Daily MailA small group of villagers watched this episode Great Designs in the village hall. Jo Broadrick, 63, told the paper: “A lot of people here have very strong opinions about the place. Some say it looks like a prison, most people say it looks like a car park.”
“A few of us got together to watch Great Designs Last night on the big screen in the village hall. We all grabbed a bottle of wine or a few beers and called it a night.
Another person, who wished to remain anonymous, said: Mail: “This is a vanity project. The most disgusting piece of vanity I have ever seen.”
But retired firefighter Chris Broadrick was much more positive. “It definitely makes a statement,” he said. “If I had the money, I’d want to buy it. I think it’s great.”
