Kevin McCloud, the face of ‘Grand Designs’, has shared an update on what’s been referred to as the ‘saddest house‘ featured on the show. Chesil Cliff House in Croyde, Devon, gained its unfortunate title after its owner, Edward Short, faced numerous setbacks during its construction, resulting in the end of his marriage and an accumulated debt around £7 million.
In an exclusive interview with us, Kevin offered insights into Ed’s current situation, remarking: “As far as I know, it’s still on the market. Ed is in neutral waiting for that to happen. He’s very busy.”
He continued: “I don’t think he’s suffering in the way he was. When we did a revisit to that project, and the original was about overreaching, to an extent he was far more humble about it and there was a degree of resolution I guess. That’s the best way of describing it.”
Looking towards the broader impact of this experience, McCloud expressed optimism, noting: “Ed’s story shows if you screw up, it’s not the end of the world. Only the end of the world is the end of the world and everything else can be dealt with,” adding thoughtfully, “It was a sad story but we’ve got people with terminal cancer and people who lost partners sometimes during the filming process, and you come to realise the problems they face – not having enough money, being in by Christmas – these are all not important.”
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He wrapped up saying: “They’re huge in the moment but when you’re dealing with a life threatening illness and it’s going to knock years off their time here, actually there are far more important things on the planet to deal with”, reports Devon Live.
The property market is abuzz as this unique residence goes on sale, hailed as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for a lucky purchaser. The listing enthuses: “The property represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to take on and finish the specification and fit out one of the UK’s most spectacularly situated coastal homes.”
It highlights the architectural wonder of the building, noting “The bespoke design has been brought to life through impressive engineering, with the building being anchored to the bed rock, blending whitewashed elevations with steel and glass, culminating with a lighthouse feature at one end giving almost 360 degree views of the coastline. The location combines privacy with a diverse range of breath-taking views, all set in around 3 acres, which includes a large area of foreshore, a private tidal beach area and coves.”
Lastly, the narrative reveals a personal consequence of this ambitious project—the breakdown of Edward’s two-decade marriage to Hazel due to the stress of the build and soaring costs.
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