Latest news with #GrandDesigns'
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
How the rich are exploiting ‘Grand Designs' planning exemption to build huge country homes
A 'Grand Designs' planning exemption is being used by the rich to build country homes. High-spec, modern houses are allowed in otherwise protected land if 'the design is of exceptional quality'. The national planning policy framework (NPPF) states that isolated homes in the countryside should be avoided, unless the building plan is 'truly outstanding' and helps raise standards of design in rural areas. This high threshold means it is only being taken advantage of by the wealthy, as they bid to build ultra-modern homes, often costing millions of pounds. Such homes have often appeared on Grand Designs, the Channel 4 programme, with some springing up in areas of outstanding natural beauty – which are usually subject to strict planning restrictions. One property, standing proud in the Cotswold area of outstanding natural beauty, is Headlands – near Prestbury, Cheltenham – which features a leaf-shaped zinc roof and a state-of-the-art interior. Completed in 2018, it meets the criteria for a design of exceptional quality. Swinhay House, near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, is another property to meet the threshold under paragraph 84 of the NPPF. The 10-level, eight-bedroom country home contains a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, bowling alley and squash court, as well as a fully enclosed glazed winter garden. A freedom of information request to all 327 local planning authorities in England showed there had been 219 applications under the framework. Of those, 138 were approved, 67 denied and 12 withdrawn. Richard Hawkes, the director and founder of Hawkes Architecture, has overseen 36 paragraph 84 projects – including Headlands. He created the company following an appearance on Grand Designs, but said the projects were often subject to complaints from 'nimbys more often than not'. 'Some members of the public don't like the idea but really there's a requirement for the homes to be isolated so it's not really going to affect them,' he said. 'It's all about continuing the tradition of the English country house, because it's quintessentially English to have these types of homes. 'But in the early noughties, it shifted to a more contemporary interpretation of this rather than the classic country estate.' He said Grand Designs had become a 'flag bearer' for the policy, in what was now an 'almost symbiotic relationship' with the programme. Figures show South Norfolk council leads the way with 17 applications received. The requirements are rigorous, to ensure 'the highest standards of architecture' are used and the plans 'significantly enhance its immediate setting, and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area'. Mr Hawkes said: 'These homes shouldn't need to hide – or apologise for being there – because they are outstanding and exceptional. 'It's a policy that was created by the Government to be achieved. It was designed to be a hurdle that could be jumped, but also one that was set high enough that the homes have to be a statement of intent.' The subterranean Bigbury Hollow, near the Bigbury Camp Iron Age hill fort in Kent, was another to meet all the requirements and feature on the Channel 4 show. The former landowner had previously had an application refused because the site represented an important 'gap' between two existing dwellings. However, this property was permitted under the exemption, as host Kevin McCloud described it as looking 'like a concrete submarine that has breached the surface of a wildflower meadow and come up for air'. Rob Hughes, the director of planning consultants Hughes Planning, who has worked with Hawkes Architecture on paragraph 84 homes, said: 'It's not something you can do half-heartedly. You have to have a lot of money to do it, but equally it's not billionaire territory – it's really a mix of clients we get.'
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kevin McCloud admits major Grand Designs change that even die-hard fans missed
A new series of the beloved property show is now airing on Channel 4 Grand Designs' latest series is now well underway, spotlighting more radical self-build projects and revisits to some previously featured homes. The Channel 4 show celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024, with the anniversary special episodes attracting two million viewers. It resulted in two more seasons being announced for 2025, with the second expected in the autumn. Meanwhile series 23 is currently being shown on Channel 4, featuring a floating home built using never-before-tested technology, as well as a pensioner with plans to create a mirror image of the beloved home that her mobility issues are forcing her out of. Long-time fans of the show might have noticed quite a significant change that has been made to the programme that is especially apparent in recent episodes, though it appears to have passed many people by. Presenter Kevin McCloud, who has fronted the show since its first episode in 1999, explained the huge change that has been made behind-the-scenes. Speaking to the Mirror's Screen Time team, he shared that they now use a cutting edge camera that allows the team to capture some truly impressive shots. The change first came in during filming of last year's autumn series. "We started using the same camera that they're using [in Netflix's Adolescence]. The reason is because it's got a Gimbal, rather like a Steadicam, which was invented for Stanley Kubrick for The Shining... and it allows you to walk down a corridor and instead of the camera bouncing it gives a beautiful smooth [shot]," Kevin shared. "It means we can push into a building really slowly and navigate round the building cleanly without worrying about whether we're going to see tracks on the floor." He continued: "It's an amazing camera so we're using it quite a bit, pretty well on every location day. We call it the chicken because as you step it does this [gestures] and it's like a chicken walking." Fans of the series are marking their calendars for the latest Grand Designs Live event spanning May 2 to May 5. The exhibition sees live talks from previous contributors to the Channel 4 series, as well as advice for those planning their own big build. This year Kevin will host an event first, with the launch of the 'Flatpack Olympics'. The event will pit people proud of their DIY skills against each other as they attempt to build everyday furniture in record time. Kevin McCloud was speaking ahead of Grand Designs Live at London ExCeL, the UK's premier home and design exhibition, taking place from 2-5 May.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside colourful & creative flat in seaside town that features on Scotland's Home of the Year on BBC
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTLAND'S Home of the Year was back on out telly screens last night with a line up of stunning properties. The BBC property competition has returned for its seventh season. 7 The seaside conversion in Saltcoats is full of colour and creativity Credit: BBC 7 The pattern on the sewing room walls was inspired by a cushion Credit: BBC 7 The flat has a large spacious kitchen which is also packed with colour Credit: BBC 7 There is a vibrant dressing room on the loft conversion Credit: BBC Judges Anna Campbell-Jones, Banjo Beale and Danny Campbell are on the look out for Scotland's most exceptional spaces. And in last night's episode the trio were in the west and visited a colourful family flat in Saltcoats, a Victorian villa in Helensburgh and a 1930s sandstone bungalow in Giffnock. First up was the seaside conversion in the Ayrshire town of Saltcoats, home to Tracey, Scott and their children Alfie, Blossom and Marley. Inside the four-bedroom seafront apartment is packed with colour and creativity which caught the judges' attention. Each room has been lovingly decorated with bright colours and patterns. On the first floor of the flat, there is a large family kitchen, a living room, a bathroom and three bedrooms. The upstairs conversion boasts a big double bedroom, a dressing room and an ensuite bathroom. Tracey's favourite spot in her home is the dining table by the large bay windows which show stunning views of the seafront. She added: "So this is our favourite spot in the home. "We do everything here. Everybody is always around the table, Christmas dinners, board games, homework, and we get to look out onto the beautiful view." Grand Designs' most 'bizarre' house ever leaves fans raging - as pensioner builds £600k replica of her own house After taking a look around the family home, it was time for the judges to give their scores. Banjo said: "This is a wild little family home, it's upside down, it's up-cycled, it's painted all sorts of colours. It's a fun little home." Danny added that the property was a "beautifully coloured family home". Anna said she admired the way the homeowner "used their home like a paint pallet to play with colour, pattern and texture." She added: "It feels really fresh, sincere and fun." The home was given an overall score of 25 by the judges in the end. 7 There are a total of four bedrooms in the family home Credit: BBC 7 The family bathroom is also full of colour Credit: BBC But it was not enough to top the judges' favourite which was the sandstone bungalow in Giffnock - thanks to its 'nana furniture'. Graphic designer Pamela, 38, shares her home with businessman hubby Gordon, 38, and their eight-year-old son Caleb. And the judges were blown away with her interior design, including a sky lantern in the hallway and the living room with pale pink walls and dark wooden floors. But Banjo was particularly impressed with the 'nana furniture' adding that it also managed to 'look contemporary'. Chuffed Pamela adds: 'It's not to everyone's taste because not everyone likes granny style. 'But I love it when you mix it with high street and more modern accessories and stuff. So I'm all for the granny.' It got a perfect score of 30 from the judges.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin McCloud revisits 'unapologetically modern' home in new Grand Designs
Grand Designs is back on screens as Kevin McCloud travels around the UK meeting new ambitious individuals building their dream homes. The Channel 4 show is now entering its 25th series, with previous episodes seeing everything from giant curved glass homes to mansions built out of clay and former water towers. Now, more keen builders are ready to take on the task, not for the faint-hearted, as Kevin travels around the UK to see the new builds in Grand Designs. The latest series kicked off with Sarah and Howard in Worthing, who built their dream "floating home". They were followed by Sarah and Pip in Bedfordshire, who brought a "rickety" old barn back to life. Tomorrow night Kevin revisits Graeme and Mel, whose hugely ambitious Hackney build was hampered by a basement bombshell. Have they finally got out of the red and into their modernist home?#GrandDesigns | Channel 4, Wednesday at 9pm 📺 — granddesigns (@granddesigns) April 15, 2025 In week three, Kevin met 82-year-old Kathryn, who wanted to build an accessible, ultra-sustainable home. This week, it's a Grand Designs revisit to Graeme and Melanie in London. On the latest episode of Grand Designs, Kevin will return to Graeme and Melanie, who had huge ambitions for their new home in Hackney. Architect Graeme planned for the home to be a comfortable haven for themselves and their teenage daughters. However, the build was met with issues when they chose a tiny twin garage plot on a traditional Victorian terraced road for £275,000. Graeme wanted the home to be "an unapologetically modernist bright red design" with a smart interior to maximise space vertically. The couple were soon met with challenges when they had to excavate four metres down in a tight urban site while having a tight 12-month schedule and a tight budget. Recommended Reading From water towers to caves - The best 7 Grand Design builds ever Q&A with Kevin McCloud as he talks all things Grand Designs Grand Designs' 'saddest ever' home had a happy ending Kevin McCloud reveals The build faced more trouble when the basement contractor withdrew from the project due to skyrocketing material costs. 18 months on from Kevin's last visit, the Grand Designs host is back to see if Graeme and Melanie completed their dream home. Grand Designs is on Channel 4 on Wednesday evenings at 9pm and is available to stream on All4.
