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Owner of Grand Designs ‘nightmare home’ opens up on approach from HUGE A-list star… but slams another ‘timewaster’ celeb
IT was dubbed Britain’s most disastrous Grand Design, but the owner of the ‘nightmare’ lighthouse project has revealed he's now been inundated with interest - including from top celebrities.
Edward Short lost his marriage and ended up £7million in debt while building Chesil Cliff House and its annex, known as The Eye, in North Devon.
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But after 12 years of blood, sweat and tears it has gone on the market for £10million - and One Direction star Harry Styles has apparently been sizing it up.
Viewers this week watched Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud return to the luxury home, which he once described as a” carcass” and as being like a wreckage on the seashore.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Edward confirmed rumours that the house has caught the eye of singer Harry as well as Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard Matt Fiddes.
But music producer Edward, who split from wife Hazel due to the stress of the build, called Fiddes a “time-waster”.
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He said: “We were approached by a buying agent who said they represented Harry’s family.
“His family were interested in it and it was Harry’s money - but that’s been it. That’s the only fact I know.
“I read that he has said he’s interested in buying a house in North Devon for £10million.”
But he added: "I don't think there's anything in it. I mean, he would have bought it by now if he was buying it."
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Edward, 52, said Matt Fiddes, who looked after Michael Jackson for ten years before his death in 2009, also wanted the house - but for a different purpose.
Speaking to , Matt confirmed his interest, explaining: "Edward won’t like my idea of turning his life’s work into flats but if he hangs onto the property any longer finding a buyer who will meet his asking price will be almost impossible.’
However, Edward said: “I think the only timewaster who got through our estate agent’s vetting was Matt.
“I don't think he was serious at all. You can't turn it into apartments for starters - in planning, you'd never have a chance."
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But there could be a more serious contender, says Edward.
“There's a husband and wife - the wife I think is Russian. Our estate agent Knight Frank said they like it, but they’re nervous about the local reaction.
“I think it'll be a while before we conclude anything. Maybe this year.”
The house first featured on the Channel 4 show Grand Designs in 2010 when Edward estimated it would take 18 months to build.
But by 2019 the main building looked more like an empty concrete garage than a home and Edward told Kevin McCloud the strain had caused him and fashion buyer Hazel to break up.
Both have gone on to meet new partners and viewers labelled it the show's ‘saddest ever home’.
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Despite now finishing the four-storey tower, which boasts five bedrooms, four receptions rooms, an infinity pool and a sauna, Edward, originally from Plymouth, is gutted he will never live in his dream home.
It was delayed further by Covid and the rising cost of materials.
He previously told the Sun: "Every pound that was being spent, the value was going up but at the same time, the chance of living in the house was going down."
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He said it was "awful"; for the family adding: "I pulled the stability rug from under them, without being able to give answers of how we were going to get out of it, other than that I had to carry on.
“I was so stressed about leaving that stain of failure on my wife and children that I was worrying a lot, I was losing sleep, but that effectively made me unable to function.”
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