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mega gorgeous design A project to build a modern “castle” in Wixford, near Stratford-upon-Avon has sparked a fierce backlash after many locals objected to the structure – believed to be the largest castle ever seen on the show.
The project in Wixford, Warwickshire has been compared to a “prison”, a “multi-storey car park” and a “deformity”. host Kevin McCloud It was also half-joked that you would have to be “out of your mind” to build a building of this scale.
At 11,000 square feet, it’s double the size of the previous largest home featured on the show One storey building in ColgateWest Sussex in 2015.
The couple behind it is entrepreneur Pierce and police officer Emma. The first thing to raise eyebrows was the demolition of the existing building, a 17th-century folly that had later been converted into an Arts and Crafts-style house, but which was in a state of disrepair.
In its place, plans included a replacement tower with battlements and arrow slits – albeit in modern design. It included a one-sided “moat”, a basement pool, a “very large garage”, and a separate lakeside office.
“So you’re tearing down a fake palace to build a fake one?” McCloud asks the couple.
“No,” says Pierce, “this is a 21st century palace”.
Having purchased the old castle for £1.4 million because their existing home was threatened by the prospect of the current owner building 60 homes on the site, they initially planned to spend an additional £2 million on new construction.
Despite inviting Channel 4 to film their progress, Pierce is wary of public reaction to the plans. “I try not to tell people what I’m doing, because it sounds grandiose and very eccentric and I think people will think I’m a bit of an ad***.”
Even before demolition begins, the program points to local concerns.
“Local villagers have taken out their pitchforks,” says McCloud.
“I’m absolutely amazed,” one resident told the programme. “I can’t believe they would demolish such a beautiful building.”
“I am devastated,” said another. “Whatever comes in its place will be a tough act to follow.”
That doesn’t matter to our intrepid builders, though. “It’s a terrible looking building,” says Pierce. “And it’s pebbled.”
Soon bulldozers move in and it is reduced to rubble.
Gradually the new building moves upward as big and small problems are eliminated. Meanwhile, the budget also increases to £5 million by the end of the episode.
Sadly, visitors don’t get to see the entire palace. It is not finished yet, and Pierce suggests that a million pounds is still needed to complete it. And those figures don’t include the initial £1.4 million for the site.
“We put everything into it, heart, soul and financially too,” says Emma.
The episode ends with McCloud vowing to return and see the couple living in his finished castle – although this now looks to be in doubt as the castle has now been put up for sale.
it Listed with Sotheby’s Realty At £7.95 million, the listing says it is “set for final completion in 2025”.
according to daily MailA small group of villagers watched this episode gorgeous design In the village hall. Joe Broadrick, 63, told the newspaper: “A lot of people around here have very strong opinions about this place. Some people say it looks like a prison, while most people say it looks like a car park.”
“Some of us gathered to watch gorgeous design On the big screen in the village hall last night. We all grabbed a bottle of wine or a few beers and made a night of it.’
Another said on condition of anonymity Match: “It’s a vanity project. It’s the most disgustingly vanity thing I’ve ever seen.”
However, retired firefighter Chris Broderick was more positive. “It definitely makes a statement,” he said. “If I had money, I would love to buy it. I think it’s great.”