Grand Designs home branded ‘worst ever’ as couple infuriate neighbours with ‘big lump’ and go £160k over budget
A PROPERTY that featured on Grand Designs has been branded the “worst ever” by viewers who say it is a “big lump”.
The couple Davi and Matt went over budget by a staggering £160,000 and also managed to irritate the neighbours.
Appearing on a re-run of the Channel 4 show from last year, the pair bought a bungalow for £800,0000 and proceeded to knock it down so they could build a two-storey modern home.
Neighbours in Chess Valley, Hertfordshire, weren’t happy about the plan but planning permission was granted and the couple were expecting to pay £550,000 for their new dream home.
Things went south though and the project went way over budget and it took 17 months for the house to be finished.
At the time the original show aired, viewers savaged the property on social media.
One person wrote on Twitter: “Crikey that’s a bit… ugly… not really in keeping with the surroundings at all, but of an ostentatious big lump.”
Another added: “Why knock down an 800k house, build something that overshadows both neighbours and totally p**ses them off as well. Bet they aren’t very welcome there. #granddesigns.”
A third simply posted: “Worst house ever.”
A fourth person asked: “Can’t help wondering if their neighbours speak to them.”
One viewer took issue with the budget, writing: “I’ve never really watched #GrandDesigns before. Do these people often run out of money before they put up curtains?”
However, others waded in to stick up for the house, with one supporter saying: “I missed the beginning so not sure what got knocked down. But I really quite like what they’ve achieved.”
They added though: “However, that budget was well and truly busted. Ridiculous amounts of money.”
Another said the house was beautiful and added they “love the stone work”.
A third person just described the property as “stunning”.
In last night’s repeat, Davi and Matt told presenter Kevin McCloud they wanted a home that reflected their nationalities, being from Zimbabwe and Australia.
The locals certainly weren’t happy, with one neighbour telling Kevin the property didn’t fit in with the street and bluntly saying: “I think it just looks horrible”.
The parents-of-two project managed the build themselves but had to overcome a number of issues when rain at the start washed out the site.
By the end though, the property featured a sculpture garden, offices on the ground floor, an open plan kitchen and an impressive skylight.
Grand Designs has featured all sorts of unusual and innovative homes since it began in 1999, with viewers often divided over their merits.
In March this year, a property in Dartmoor was featured with viewers saying they were appalled by the “mad” cost of a “monstrous” home.
TV viewers weren’t happy about properties which featured in May in a spin-off show called Grand Designs: The Streets.
Viewers took to social media in their droves to express their disappointment with the way the new houses are built.
Earlier this month, viewers also took to social media to air their views about an experimental new home in York.