Channel 4’s Grand Designs saddest ever home still isn’t sold after nearly 13 years

A sprawling home in North Devon was branded the saddest home ever by viewers after starring on . The property saw host Kevin McCloud once meet with the owner and walk around the jaw-dropping home.

However, it tore apart the owner’s life and left him with a huge hole of debt. Chesil Cliff House has since gone down in show history after becoming the most dramatic build.

But the story is far from over as it is yet to be sold 13 years later. The mansion took 11 years to build and left its owner Edward Short in £7 million of debt, is still on the market but now at a lower price of £5.25 million.

Kevin, 63, is apparently still in contact with Edward and said there is “lots of interest” in the property. In a chat with earlier this year he said: “He’s had a couple of celebrities and I think he’s had a comedian or two, because it is quite an expensive house, and so consequently for people who are interested, they need to make loads of money, and that includes actors and performers and singers.

“Last time I met Ed he was sort of close to a deal, so that’s all I know. It’s a fabulous story. A story of hubris and over-reaching and destruction really, of things, of personal life, turned into a sort of story about redemption and growth,” he added.

Before sharing: “It was an amazing thing. People called it the last ever Grand Designs as if that was it, we were going to go out on a low.”

It launched with agent Knight Frank in July 2022 but has not had much luck on the market.

The stunning coastal mansion, which was designed to resemble a lighthouse, ran into developmental issues and has taken over a decade to construct.

However, it was listed for sale earlier this year through debt collectors for a knockdown price of £5.5 million.

The unusual abode was put back on the market in February last year with an asking price of £10m and attracted large amounts of attention from celebrities.

This came as no shock after the abode also boasts a stunning cliff-top annexe adjacent to the property called The Eye. And is located in Croyde, North Devon.

It was reported that the likes of Harry Styles and Micheal Jackson’s former bodyguard Matt Fiddes showed an interest.

However, despite their garnering curiosity, it remained unsold, with the asking price ultimately branded as too expensive.

Meanwhile, it has been also said that Edward started out on a budget of £1.8million and had hoped for the project to be done in 18 months, but it has cost him thousands as well as the breakdown of his marriage.