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Sarah Beeny's £3m mansion hit with demolition order
An extension built without planning permission, and documented on the show, was retrospectively refused by the council.
Ms Beeny and her husband Graham Swift appealed against the decision, but that was rejected. They have been ordered to demolish the extension.
The original planning permission stipulated that existing buildings on the property be torn down, but Beeny chose to renovate and extend instead.
She has transformed the property into a stately home, complete with two libraries, a vineyard, a boathouse and a greenhouse.
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Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Grand disasters — the Channel 4 homes that ruined marriages and plunged couples
Many of us fantasise about our dream home and, for some ambitious enough to build theirs from the ground up, Channel 4's Grand Designs is there to document the process. Since the show first aired back in 1999, viewers have avidly watched hundreds of couples create a place that most of us can only imagine ever living in. But for some, what started as a dream project has turned into a nightmare storm of debt, divorce and unfinished houses – and all broadcast on national television. Some have even been forced to complete the project and put it up for sale immediately, desperately trying to make a profit and unable to enjoy the fruits of their labour. A prime example of this was the infamous Chesil Cliff House in Devon which appeared on Grand Designs for the first time in 2019 – one of the most popular episodes ever. However, its popularity was due to the disasters that Edward and Hazel Short faced when what was meant to be an 18-month project turned into a decade long ordeal. It was even dubbed the 'saddest' Grand Designs property story. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. But fear not, because in a brand new development and after more than a decade-long struggle, Savills has confirmed to Homebuilding & Renovating the property was sold in October 2024 – although the sale amount is unclear. The three-acre plot includes a four-storey tower, five bedrooms, four reception rooms, a cinema, sauna, cellar, 60ft infinity pool, and even a private beach cove. It's the final chapter in what has been a very bleak story. After starting the project in 2011, the building process suffered multiple set backs, with Edward at one point reportedly being left £7 million in debt so he could finish the home. Despite paying £1.4 million for the original plot which came with a large 1950s home, they put up another £1.8 million to build the house but were forced to borrow an additional £2.5 million in 2016. Meanwhile, drilling into the cliffside rocks had proved more difficult than first thought, costing the couple an extra £1 million while another £250,000 was needed to build the driveway. Sadly, the strain of the build put huge pressure on Edward and his wife and seven years into their project, they split up in 2018. Edward admitted in an interview that his 'ambition and vanity [had] probably collapsed the marriage'. Unhappy neighbours had savagely compared the house to a 'north Korean missile bunker' but after many years of labour Edward, a father-of-two, finished the home. He didn't get to move into it though. It hit the market in July 2022 for £8 million, alongside an adjacent development of his called The Eye which was listed for £2 million. If it had sold at this price Edward would have been left with a hefty profit but after discussions with a buyer fell through, the home was listed again in June 2023 – this time for £7.5 million. It was then reduced again to £6.5 million in the autumn and remains for sale at this price, although it is currently not being listed online by Knight Frank. Edward told Devon Live: 'I have got used to being a millionaire in debt. I've been doing this build for more than 10 years – so have gone past headaches now and built a lot of resilience. 'I can not make any plans of what I do next until it is sold – but I would be very surprised if they involved any more big build projects. I think I need a physiatrist and help with PTSD.' Now, his turmoil has come to a close and Edward can move on. While Edward's Chesil Cliff House may be the most notable, he and his family aren't alone when it comes to disastrous builds. Husband and wife social workers Sze Liu Lai and Chris Miller never managed to finish their home and it now sits abandoned. The Medway Eco Barge in Kent was intended to be an eco-friendly houseboat with an initial budget of £50,000. But the couple went an eye-watering 60% over budget, spending £80,000 in total. But it was clear their project wasn't working and the couple, along with their two children, were forced to jump ship, abandoning their dream to live in it. Despite needing a permanent mooring, the couple only began to look for one a year into the project and they were also evicted from boatyards where they were building multiple times. Having appeared on the show in 2007, the derelict boat was eventually found washed up and vandalised in Essex in 2011 where it was being used by squatters. It was in a 2007 episode of Grand Designs, that we met Dean Marks. His aim was to convert the 18th century St Martin's Church in Tipton, West Yorkshire, into a five bedroom home for himself, his wife Hilary and his daughter Abbie. While the home was completed, Dean now reportedly lives in the property without his wife because they split just before the episode aired. He told MailOnline: 'I admit I worked hard on it. I did not have a large amount of quality time with Hilary but that was a small price to pay.' The gruelling four years it took to get planning permission for his designs and the vandals hindering the process also left Dean's health in a poor state. He suffered two heart attacks as a result of exhaustion, bone and ligament damage from exerting himself during the build and he sadly developed testicular cancer too. It's seeming like 2007 was an unlucky year for those featured on Grand Designs, with Barry Surtees, his wife Julie and their son facing a health scare during the build. The Curve in Brighton was designed to follow the contours of its surroundings and was four stories high, but the idea of curvy glass front had to be abandoned after it couldn't be sourced. However, the real stress came with Barry's heart attack, which meant he needed not one but five heart bypasses, shortly after the build began. Despite his pretty serious health concern though it was just three years later that the property was finished. However, the family didn't reap the rewards, with the property going on the market that same year for £3.5 million. Unlike the other properties though, it sold in 2012 for an undisclosed amount. Barry Surtees' home The Curve Brighton (Picture: BBC) Barry and Julie did manage to sell their property but for an unknown amount (Picture: Channel 4) Season 22 of Grand Designs featured the Hux Shard in Devon, which was a victim of Covid-19 – and the property went a jaw-dropping 199% over budget. Joe and Claire Pridays had an initial spend plan of £835,000 but the project ended up costing £2.5 million – a total made more painful by the immense backlash the house received. The home was built with 34 giant angled zinc shards, with host Kevin McCloud describing it as a 'crystal fortress'. He also said that the build felt like 'more money than sense'. The kitchen alone cost them £125,000 and as the cost of living crisis began to take hold alongside Covid and Brexit, the couple's home left a sour taste in everyone's mouths. Social media users slammed the show and the couple over the blatant disregard for their budget. One called Taffi wrote: 'In all seriousness, that was one sickening Grand Design. Everything about it highlighted the gulf between the haves and have-nots. What he spent on just a kitchen??! And what about the environmental cost?' Chris and Kayo were yet another Grand Designs couple who built a home over a painstaking 10 years – only to end up selling after spending just a few years in their house. The property Abbey Orchard House is located just half a mile from the stunning commuter city centre of St Albans and was inspired by the roman heritage of the area, as well as having Japanese influences. But the couple went an alarming 150% over budget, spending £1.5 million rather than the intended £600,000. This was largely due to the six years worth of planning delays but in 2017 the 5,175 square foot finished product was aired on Grand Designs. Despite looking like a tranquil oasis the property didn't last long as the family's home, with it being put up for sale in 2022. The property hasn't shifted from the market though and is still listed on Savills at £5.95 million. Our final Grand Disaster is a property known as The Seaside House saw owners Bram and Lisa Vis left horribly out of pocket. The couple had reportedly made a huge miscalculation concerning the initial project costs and ended up being 158% over budget. The had planned to spend £850,000 but ended up spending £2.2 million. The couple said on Grand Designs: 'It was around 800, in reality it's a lot more. It cost £2.2 million, plus the land which was in total £935,000, so we're in for about £3.3 million at the moment.' More Trending Bram had even said earlier in the show: 'The mortgages are not necessarily a problem. Paying them off might be a problem.' The property seems like the dream home at 7,200 square feet with a heated swimming pool and jacuzzi – did we mention the 3.8 acres of private beach? However, four years later in 2018 the house was put on the market and listed for £3.95 million – then just six months later was slashed by £1 million to £2.99 million. View More » Bram and Lisa were reportedly selling the property for less than it cost to build and it has now been sold – although how much for is unknown. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: These are the greatest films of all time you need to stream right now MORE: TV fans defend 'unbelievably stupid' crime thriller that's streaming for free MORE: TV fans predict 'Inbetweeners reunion' after stars tease new project
The Courier
20 hours ago
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Tony Banks hits out at former Tayside Aviation owners
Tony Banks has reignited his war of words with the former owners of Tayside Aviation after a senior engineer admitted falsifying flight records. Stuart McPherson, 67, is awaiting sentence after showing a 'blatant disregard' for aircraft safety by making bogus logbook entries at the now-defunct Dundee flight school. Mr Banks has now revealed he raised the alarm, before spending a six-figure sum on ensuring the planes were safe for students to use. He has broken his silence on the issue less than a month after a separate court case which ruled the company's previous owners James and Kathleen Watt had not 'fairly and accurately disclosed' a change in their firm's accounting policy. The Secret Millionaire star says this judgment vindicated him from being seen as responsible for Tayside Aviation's collapse. A second hearing regarding possible compensation will be held at a later date. Mr Banks, who found fame on the Channel 4 show, has maintained for years he was not to blame for the collapse of Tayside Aviation. When the air training school collapsed in April 2023 under his ownership, 22 people found themselves suddenly unemployed and students were left thousands of pounds out of pocket. He claims he was misled by husband and wife James and Kathleen Watt — claims they defended at the Court of Session. Speaking to The Courier this week, Mr Banks said: 'When we took over Tayside Aviation, we uncovered issues with the maintenance of aircraft and the recording process used under the management of the previous owners, James and Kathleen Watt. 'We reported our concerns to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as soon as we found out what was going on and then spent hundreds of thousands of pounds ensuring the aircraft were safe for students to use. 'We have not been able to talk about this until now for obvious legal reasons. 'However, this prosecution, coupled with the judgement issued by Lord Braid last month that ruled the previous owners breached a warranty that led to us being misled during the sale of the business, shows that the collapse of Tayside Aviation was sadly unavoidable. 'We invested around £1.5 million into the business to address the aircraft safety issues and to deal with cashflow problems caused by the accounting process, but, in the end, we simply couldn't save Tayside Aviation. 'We have always been unfairly blamed for Tayside Aviation going under but this prosecution and the Court of Session judgement show that blame lies firmly elsewhere.' The relationship between Mr Banks and the Watts wasn't always turbulent. In 2022, when it was announced the Balhousie Care founder had bought the flight school, Mr Watt was originally staying on to run it. They had both served in the armed forces — Tony Banks is a veteran of the parachute regiment and the Falklands War, while aviator Jim had been in the Royal Navy. But their relationship unravelled publicly in 2023 after Tayside Aviation plunged into administration, culminating in a series of court actions. Last month we reported on a judgement made by Lord Braid, which ruled the Watts had not disclosed a change in their firm's accounting policy. Mr Banks also says he paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to fix the 'aircraft safety issues' uncovered after former employee Mr McPherson falsified log book entries in his role as continuing airworthiness manager. The engineer is awaiting sentence after admitting making bogus records. Mr Banks says he invested £1.5m trying to rescue Tayside Aviation. In 2023, after its collapse, he told us it had cost him £3m. Interpath's latest administrators report lists Mr Banks as a secured creditor owed £110,000. In July, we reported on a civil case ruling made at the Court of Session. It centred around how tuition fees paid in advance by students had been presented in the Tayside Aviation accounts prior to him buying the firm. Lord Braid found Mr Banks had failed to prove four of the warranties had been breached. But a fifth — that accounts prepared in 2020 had not followed the same accounting policy of those prepared in 2017 — had not been 'fairly and accurately disclosed' to the businessman. Lord Braid said the evidence presented by Mr Banks, including a key spreadsheet and expert testimony, was unreliable or inadmissible due to methodological flaws, was missing primary documents and had a lack of clear factual grounding. Last year an employment tribunal ruled Tayside Aviation failed to follow correct redundancy procedures as the company went into administration. James 'Jim' Watt bought Tayside Aviation in 2004, while wife Kathleen was appointed a director in 2015. The school was founded on a strip of grass in 1962. Mr Watt advocated for plans to launch Scotland's first international aviation academy in the empty former water board building next to the airport, unveiled the morning after the UK voted for Brexit. These stalled when Tayside Aviation went bust, despite funding promises in the Tay Cities Deal. Mr Watt is now managing director of Fife Airport, where he and Kathleen run Fife Flight School. After being approached by The Courier to see if he wanted to respond to Mr Banks, Mr Watt sent a copy of an inspection report from Education Scotland for Tayside Aviation, dated June 2021 when he still owned the company. He added: 'Mr Banks is not worthy of any comment.' The CAA said it would not be appropriate to comment on McPherson's conviction until after he is sentenced.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer names three used cars that 'sell almost immediately'
Mike Brewer, who has recently opened up a new used car dealership, says three SUVs fly off his forecourt Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer has revealed three used cars that sell "almost immediately". The revelation comes as the 60-year-old has taken the "biggest gamble of his life" by launching a fresh dealership venture. While fans will know Mike from programmes like Driven on Channel 4 and Discovery's Wheeler Dealers, he's recently launched One Automotive in Leamington Spa. The businessfocuses on motors and commercial vehicles. And Mike reveals there are three particular used cars that disappear from the lot the moment they arrive. He describes the trio of vehicles as both sought-after and "imminently reliable". Speaking to The Mirror, he explained: "We have a lot of Transit vans and utility vehicles but some of the biggest selling vehicles are the five-door SUV soccer mum cars where you can drop the kids off and then do the shopping. "The Hyundai Kona and the Ford Kuga sell almost immediately. They are really good cars and the Nissan Qashqai goes really quickly. They are all imminently reliable." Hyundai represents a marque that Mike maintains should feature near the summit of any shopping list when searching for a fresh motor. He spotlighted the manufacturer's 10-year warranty. He continued: "The Korean cars are really reliable and you can get amazing 10-year warranties. You can get a relatively new or new car at a really low cost." The Kona, Kuga and Qashqai all regularly score favourably on reviews, with the Nissan and Hyundais both ranked four out of five by What Car? Magazine. The 2025 Ford Kuga scored a three out of five. Car expert Mike meanwhile is set to give fans a peak behind-the-scenes at his dealership in his new TV show, Mike Brewer: Born Dealer. Fans will watch on as Mike takes the "biggest gamble he's ever taken in his life" by investing his pension pot into a new car dealership, One Automotive. Mike explained: "It is a chance to look into the bonnet and see the real Mike Brewer. On this show I would wake up and there was a camera crew following you. I thought 'I'm not going to hold back' and it shows both the highs and lows." Beyond providing a more personal insight into Mike's world, the programme will showcase some of his favourite motors that have graced his forecourt. These include a carbon black BMW M3 that Mike is excited for fans to see. Mike continued: "You get to see a Mk2 Volkswagen Golf, with a VR6 engine that's really cool. We've got a BMW E46 M3, in carbon black... that's an amazing car, and we're really looking forward to showing you that. "There's a lovely story with Richard Hammond's mother's Mazda MX5, which we restore and sell for charity, which is absolutely lovely and a really nice story. "Plus you're going to see lots of the custom vans that we do - buying vans, customising them, selling them - and we also diversify into pickup trucks. So yeah, there's a really broad variety of cars, from your classics, to your modern classics, to up-to-date modern cars, but every car has something happen to it."
