Grand Designs

Could this be a Grand Design that’s just too grand? Kevin McCloud meets Clinton from Sussex, who's attempting to build one of the largest homes ever featured on the show. He also wants every detail to be perfect and is willing to spend whatever it takes to achieve his vision. He’s taking a huge risk, juggling financial ruin with the creation of something incredible. But which way will it go?

James Strangeways has spent 35 years traveling Britain's waterways and now he's looking to put down roots in a boat-like house. He commissions his nephew, architect Ben, to build him this shipshape home. But things take a dramatic turn when their contractor goes bust, taking their building money with him. Then James starts to tweak Ben’s designs in ways that sets alarm bells ringing.

After a traumatic life-threatening event, Bram Vis and his family want to build an idyllic retreat by the sea on the Isle of Wight. But Bram’s ambitious vision soon outstrips his generous budget. Unwilling to compromise on the scale or design of his home, finances start to spiral out of control. As they borrow more and more, it could turn into one of the most expensive Grand Designs ever.

Once upon a time, many eons ago, we all lived in caves. But there’s a good reason why we all stopped inhabiting them. This information hasn’t reached Angelo. He’s found a damp, abandoned cave that was last lived in nearly 70 years ago. Many months of painstaking digging and drilling follow. But how do you make a cave comfortable for contemporary living, while keeping its unique cave-like spirit?

Michele and Michael want to restore a derelict 100-year-old blacksmiths, including a giant extension, for a budget price. But their location on the rugged Northern Irish coast is just the start of their problems. Armed with a pickaxe, Michael decides to tackle much of the work himself. But soon family pressures and the sheer scale of the project starts to catch up with the couple.

Can you really convert a cowshed into a home by learning skills from the internet? Chef Ed and Pilates instructor Vicky have decided to give it a try. Their agricultural building has amazing views of the countryside. But tackling the project themselves and using just one young builder to do most of the work soon leads to problems. And they’ve only given themselves 8 months to make it all happen.

One thing that’s vital when undertaking a major building project is keeping the neighbors happy. Unfortunately, this idea hasn’t reached Stephen and Anita who want to create a large, unique home covered in startling metal cladding in a conservative, rural area. With the locals looking on, they struggle with the plot size and their meagre budget. Then their metal cladding causes more headaches.