Channel 4 viewers were left gob smacked after the new series of Grand Designs returned this week. Presenter Kevin McCloud returned for the 23rd series of the popular property programme which follows some of the country's most ambitious self-building projects.
The first episode of the new series followed couple Colin and Adele on their journey to design and construct the home of their dreams in south Manchester. Having grown up in the prestigious area of Hale, which has become a hotspot for Manchester footballers and TV personalities, the pair wanted to buy a family home there.
But with the average house price in the area around £797,000, Colin and Adele settled for 'the only place in the area they could afford' and bought a house with the intention to knock it down and rebuild their dream home.
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The couple planned to build an eye-catching 'glass and wood curved' structure designed by a Swedish architect that would become their family home.
But from the offset the pair encountered various problems, starting with their idea of the budget.
Ahead of the work beginning, Colin, who described himself as a risk-taker told Kevin: "I think it is going to cost £700,000 to build the house, that will get us to a watertight building."
But the presenter responded: "I'd make that £1.5 million to actually deliver a good quality finish to it," with Colin adding that it would be a "nightmare" if it was going to cost near that price.
During the eight-year long process to build their dream home, the couple faced contractor issues, delays due to the coronavirus pandemic and financial stress.
A huge amount of steelwork formed the foundation of their design with 205 pieces brought in to create the structure, which was described by many viewers as looking like a "rollercoaster".
One of the biggest issues the pair came across was the Latvian contractors who Colin had sourced in the hope to save money on the building, glazing and cladding.
But things soon began to go pear-shaped as the contractors 'disappeared' after he paid them £250,000 upfront.
Colin then had to find another contractor to pay whilst already eating far into his budget. Luckily his sister who runs a glassmaking company offered to help out with the home's many vast floor to ceiling windows, and told Colin he didn't have to pay until the mortgage came through.
Despite the many disasters and delays, the home was eventually completed in 2021 - eight years after they began planning it - with the couple going a whopping £1 million over their initial budget.
Arriving at the huge, eye-catching house, presenter Kevin said: "It looks like a timber-clad Scandinavian space-ship has landed and I am docking with it."
Inside the Scandinavian-style house has a grand open-plan Italian kitchen and living space on the ground floor with floor to ceiling windows that lead outdoors into the vast garden.
The home has an impressive spiral staircase that leads up to the first floor with a cinema room with a private balcony, four bedrooms each with their own bathroom as well as a bar and games room.
Completing the top floor is a double height atrium with the main bedroom, a bathroom and a balcony offering beautiful views.
Colin then revealed he didn't get the £250,000 back from the contractors and that the total cost of their home was £1.7 'and a bit' million pounds.
Grand Designs viewers were completely stunned by how much the couple spent on the property and took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
@GrahamP84993234 wrote: "After watching episode, with their finances, and children older, why would you go through all the stress of what they went through. No thanks. Just buy a nice lovely house on your affordable budget and enjoy life. I'd have had a heart attack."
@__oddie__ said: "New series of #GrandDesigns off to a flyer. Fella tries to build a vanity project on cheap Latvian labour, in Hale, then ends up spending £1m over budget. The lad is on a different planet."
@missthorpe tweeted: "Seriously? A million pounds over budget. Absolute madness."
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