Grand Designs has returned to the lighthouse once dubbed 'saddest ever house' after it underwent a dramatic makeover.
On Wednesday night, viewers were reunited with Edward Short whose struggles were featured on the programme back in 2019. The ambitious project was mired in setbacks that plunged the homeowners into millions in debt and ended in the split of the owner and his ex-wife Hazel.
Chesil Cliff House is now complete after an astonishing 11-year saga. Once dubbed a "sad and cautionary tale about overreaching" by presenter Kevin McCloud, the programme showed how the nightmare build overcame the odds.
The lighthouse's story traces back to 2011 when Edward and Hazel knocked down their 1950s house in favour of their vision of an art deco-style lighthouse.
The two notoriously blew through their budget of £1.8million, previously refusing to compromise on their ideas. Eventually, the house lay unfinished, the ambitious plans costing the parents-of-two their marriage and millions in debt.
Hazel had told Kevin: "All our money is gone. All borrowed and it's all gambled."
Previous images showed the grey unfinished shell of the home standing starkly against the Devon cliffside, but in the latest episode, Grand Designs viewers were reintroduced to the lighthouse.
The end result is a huge glass white structure featuring a four-storey tower featuring 300 degree views of the coast, an infinity pool and an annexe dubbed 'the Eye'.
Kevin remarked: "I don't think I've ever visited a place which so powerfully spoke of healing, redemption, and achievement."
Sadly, after all this time and effort, homeowner Edward won't realise his dream of living in Chesil Cliff House, revealing that he hoped to sell the lighthouse and its annexe for the eye-popping price of £10million.
He estimated the total costs had run up to £5.5million and £6million - about triple their initial budget.
Fans of the programme were torn on social media. While glad to see the house complete, others were gripped by the ultimate cost of the build - its tragic ending.
One said: "Wow @granddesigns incredible build. An achievement against adversity and so pleased to see it finished."
On the other hand, another tweeted: "Man lost his marriage. Spent £6 million on a house. Then doesn't even get to live in the house. Insanity".
A second wrote: "This is the follow up to the saddest #granddesigns ever. The house is 5 mins up the road from us. Really wish he'd just developed the house that was already there."
"This #granddesigns is starting so far back that they are dealing with a previous recession!" remarked one fan.
There is one thought perhaps all Grand Designs viewers could agree on, as Kevin put it: "I'm not sure I'll ever see a project like this again."
Fans can find Edward's Chesil Cliff House on Rightmove here.
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