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A couple featured on Grand Designs has sparked outrage among locals with their proposal to demolish a cherished 17th-century fortress to construct their own castle.
If completed, this structure would mark the first castle built in the UK in a century.
Locals were 'disgusted' by the couple's decision to demolish a 17th-century folly to build a £7 million castle instead.Credit: Channel 4
Entrepreneur Piers and police officer Emma have encountered numerous challenges with their ambitious construction project.Credit: Channel 4
The 17th-century castle was completely demolished in the early stages of the couple’s plan.Credit: Channel 4
Locals were left "aghast" when the beloved hilltop fortress became a casualty of the couple’s plans.
Entrepreneur Piers and officer Emma purchased the property for £1.4 million.
They proceeded to tear it down and replace it with a large castle constructed from recycled materials.
Emma and Piers’ project is the largest seen to date on the show.
On the show this evening, the couple expressed their desire for the building to be a “modern family home” for their two daughters.
With an initial budget of £2 million, Emma and Piers’ plans included a tower, battlements, a moat, arrow slits, and courtyards.
The monumental project's cost eventually escalated to an astonishing £5 million.
Their ambitions left host Kevin McCloud, who has been presenting the show for 25 years, perplexed.
He remarked to the couple: “You’d have to be out of your mind to build something like this.”
Locals have been left “devastated” by the decision to demolish the locally cherished converted folly.
The iconic local landmark was originally built on the advice of the Prince Regent for Lord and Lady Hertford at the end of the 17th century.
During the show, one neighbor stated: “I’m absolutely aghast. I can’t believe they would demolish such a lovely building.”
A second neighbor added: “I’m devastated; whatever replaces it will be hard to follow.”
Piers, however, maintained that the existing structure was a “horrible looking building” made from “pebble dash.”
Piers had to request a loan from his parents' pension fund.Credit: Channel 4
The outcome of the couple's plans will be revealed this evening.Credit: Channel 4
Emma and Piers aimed to construct a modern castle on the site of the demolished folly.
The new home would span a massive 1,100 square meters and be built with 25,000 blocks, 14,000 fake tiles, and 81 windows.
To finance this grand project, Piers was compelled to sell multiple businesses and properties, and even borrow from his mother's pension fund.
It took an additional four weeks for the property to be declared safe for demolition after asbestos was discovered throughout.
This resulted in an unexpected £100,000 in costs right from the start of the build.
Police officer Emma admitted: “Our monthly expenses are staggering, between £50,000 and £100,000.”
Piers, who owns five start-up businesses, launched his first company at just 15 years old and won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at age 31.
To fund his ambitious project, the businessman had to sell off “some properties” for an undisclosed amount.
