Daughters of man who built Grand Designs’ lighthouse say ill-fated project ‘left a hole’

The daughters of the man behind Grand Designs’ infamous lighthouse have revealed how the ‘overambitious’ project impacted their lives. 

Lauren, 24, and Nicole Short, 22, grew up as their parents Edward and Hazel Short tried to build their ambitious lighthouse in North Devon and discuss how it has affected them in a special airing tonight at 9pm on Channel 4. 

Short, 52, spent a decade building the extraordinary Chesil Cliff House, in Croyde, Devon, with the ambitious project seeing him transform his family’s 1950s home into an art-deco white lighthouse.

It featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs in October 2019, and was described as the ‘saddest episode ever’ by many viewers after the music industry executive revealed that the arrival of the recession, building issues and the end of his marriage to wife Hazel had left his dream in tatters.

Father-of-two Edward remained adamant he would finish the design – yet his dream of an idyllic existence in the stunning cliff-top home in one of Devon’s most picturesque coastal locations was dashed and he admitted earlier last year he would be forced to sell it in the hopes of a £4million profit once it was completed at the end of 2021.

The house was finally put on the market for £10 million in July – despite not having a kitchen, bathroom, flooring or light fixtures – with Edward insisting it had all been worth it.

In tonight’s show, Grand Designs’ presenter Kevin McCloud travels back to North Devon to follow up on the project. 

The process has been ongoing throughout much of the lives of Lauren and Nicole who grew up spending periods at their father’s home, the three-bedroom annex known as The Eye. 

Lauren, 24, left, and Nicole Short, 22, grew up as their parents Edward and Hazel Short tried to build their ambitious lighthouse in North Devon and discuss how it has affected them in a special episode of Grand Designs airing tonight at 9pm on Channel 4

The Channel 4 presenter will travel to North Devon for the show, which will air at 9pm, to revisit the Lighthouse, a £7million build which was the brain child of Edward Short, who appeared on the show in 2019 with his wife Hazel. Pictured after it was finished and put on the market for £10million

The Channel 4 presenter will travel to North Devon for the show, which will air at 9pm, to revisit the Lighthouse, a £7million build which was the brain child of Edward Short, who appeared on the show in 2019 with his wife Hazel. Pictured after it was finished and put on the market for £10million 

Lauren and Nicole, pictured with their mother Hazel, have talked about how the show affected them, and admitted letting go of the house had been 'tough'

Lauren and Nicole, pictured with their mother Hazel, have talked about how the show affected them, and admitted letting go of the house had been ‘tough’

Speaking to Kevin in tonight’s episode, Lauren said: ‘I don’t think any of of us fully gave up on the idea that the house wouldn’t still happen. 

‘But being a family house, that one got given up. that was tough,’ with both and her sister adding: ‘it leaves a hole.’

Nicole spoke candidly of being ‘over the house’ which took 12 years to build.  

‘I had my times a few years ago where I was so over it. I just wanted it to be done ad fell out with people asking questions,’ she told Kevin. 

‘Especially because I don’t know half of the answers to these questions,’ she added. 

Edward initially appeared on Grand Designs in 2010 with his wife Hazel and their family (pictured) when they described  their 'dream' of building their lighthouse home

Edward initially appeared on Grand Designs in 2010 with his wife Hazel and their family (pictured) when they described  their ‘dream’ of building their lighthouse home

Edward's eldest daughter Lauren  likes to share snippets of her life on social media

She admitted that letting go of the house had been 'tough' and 'left a hole'

Lauren, who likes to share snippets of her life on social media, admitted that letting go of the house had been ‘tough’ and ‘left a hole’ 

The 24-year-old is close to both her parents, with whom she has appeared on the show during the original 2019 episode, and during tonight's show

The 24-year-old is close to both her parents, with whom she has appeared on the show during the original 2019 episode, and during tonight’s show 

Property consultancy Knight Frank are currently selling the main house and its annex known as The Eye, with a guide price of £10million

Property consultancy Knight Frank are currently selling the main house and its annex known as The Eye, with a guide price of £10million

‘When he started it, it was going to be a two-year job or something, and it’s now 12 years down the line,’ she joked. 

The young woman also talked about her parents’ split, after the lighthouse took a toll on their marriage.  

‘But what happened between my mum and dad, even without the house, would have probably have happened anyway,’ she said, adding their parents were much happier now than they were at the time. 

She talked of her parents’ new partners, especially her father’s fiancée Jalia Nambasa, a nurse Edward is planning to marry next year. 

‘He’s in such a better place now, and I think mum finding her partner and dad finding his partner as well, just to see him happier, he’s a lot less stressed than he was and everything has fallen into place which is cool, Nicole said. 

The house is now on the market for £10 million - despite not having a kitchen, bathroom, flooring or light fixtures - with Edward insisting it had all been worth it (pictured, a study in the property)

The house is now on the market for £10 million – despite not having a kitchen, bathroom, flooring or light fixtures – with Edward insisting it had all been worth it (pictured, a study in the property) 

The property is positioned on a three-acre site between surfers' paradise Saunton Sands backed by the impressive UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Braunton Burrows, and the idyllic cove of Croyde

The property is positioned on a three-acre site between surfers’ paradise Saunton Sands backed by the impressive UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Braunton Burrows, and the idyllic cove of Croyde

Speaking of his own previous marriage on the show, Edward said: ‘We genuinely are better than when we were married. She is the mother of my children, she is always going to be present in my life.’

Speaking candidly on the show, Kevin admitted to Edward he didn’t think he would see the end of the project.  

‘I feel slightly embarrassed that I didn’t think you’d do it,’ he said, adding: ‘I thought venture capitalist would come in, put in their own project manager, you wouldn’t retain title and effectively, you’d be edged out. That was my fear.’

Reflecting on the project, the father-of-two said: ‘It’s worth it because it’s finished, it wouldn’t have been worth if it hadn’t been finished, it would have been painful.’ 

After meeting with the family, Kevin reflected on Edward story, saying: ‘Three years ago, I described this build as a cautionary tale of overreaching ambition, which damaged a relationship, fractured a family, and also, of course, had taken Ed to the brink of bankruptcy.

One side of the house features enormous floor to ceiling windows which offer a view out onto the sea and cliff beyond (pictured)

One side of the house features enormous floor to ceiling windows which offer a view out onto the sea and cliff beyond (pictured) 

Meanwhile the expansive master bedroom has a view down onto the infinity pool on the ground floor level and the cliffs beyond

Meanwhile the expansive master bedroom has a view down onto the infinity pool on the ground floor level and the cliffs beyond 

‘But then you see that same ambition, that same drive, is what has taken Ed to this point. a point where he can call this place finished, where the family can draw a line, they can move on,’ he added. 

‘Buildings can sustain; it’s not just physically, it’s also emotionally and spiritually too. Their walls can contain within them angst and pain as well as love, and joy.

‘I don’t think I ever visited a place which so eloquently, so powerfully spoke of healing, redemption and achievement,’ the presenter added. 

Photographs revealing the finished property were unveiled this summer, showing the white art-deco lighthouse perched on the edge of a cliff with an infinity pool running along one edge – just as Edward had always dreamed. 

Speaking to The Times in July, he claimed his ex-wife Hazel was ‘blown away’ when she first saw the house, and adding: ‘I think having been unsure for so long, its only when you get to that final moment of builders pulling out — with finishing touches done and furniture in — that it’s, like, ‘Yeah, now I get it.’ ‘

Meanwhile he revealed he and his family watched the episode of Grand Designs together, adding: ‘We laughed and we cried, it was very emotional.’

And despite all the issues and problems that came with the house, Edward said he had learned not to ‘worry’ which he said was just ‘burning energy unnecessarily.’

He added he hadn’t fitted a kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and light fixtures, saying: ‘Whoever buys it will want to do their own thing.’

Last July, property consultancy Knight Frank announced the launch of the sale of the main house and its annex known as The Eye, with a guide price of £10million.

The house is positioned on a three-acre site between surfers’ paradise Saunton Sands backed by the impressive UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Braunton Burrows, and the idyllic cove of Croyde.

It has been anchored into the bed rock of the cliff, painstakingly engineered to a level that leaves no possibility for erosion hazards.

The agents described the property as one of the most impressive waterfront homes around and said they expected ‘global interest’ in the sale.

It comprises of five bedrooms and bathrooms, four reception rooms, a sauna and a cellar. The property also includes the three-bedroom studio annex known as The Eye and a double garage.

Edward has previously revealed he has had no option but to sell the home to cover the large amount of money he had to borrow during the project, explaining that total costs were set to reach £6million. 

Speaking last July, he said: ‘These past ten years have been a marathon slog – and I have got used to being a millionaire in debt. I’ve accepted the only way forward is to finish and sell it.

‘I had no idea it would end up costing so much but I’ve accepted now that I’m never going to be able to live in it because I have money I need to pay back. It was my overconfidence and arrogance that got me here in the first place so I’m doing what I need to do. 

‘Even though I’ll be selling it, I’m still finding it so exciting to see this concrete skeleton finally coming together into a beautiful building.’

Edward previously apologised to locals who he said were fed up of seeing the unfinished grey eyesore on the point, but also asked them to ‘stick with it’.

He had told them: ‘I know it’s a mess, and I have to fix that – but when it is finished it will be amazing. Judge it when it’s finished.’

In a 2019 episode of Grand Designs, Edward explained that he’d long dreamed of building a lighthouse on the cliff – but said several factors got in the way.

Edward, left, took on the project with his wife Hazel, but the couple eventually split when construction took a toll on their relationship

Edward, left, took on the project with his wife Hazel, but the couple eventually split when construction took a toll on their relationship 

When the Grand Designs lighthouse episode aired in 2019, it was unfinished and Edward had put himself in massive debt in order to complete the project, to no avail

When the Grand Designs lighthouse episode aired in 2019, it was unfinished and Edward had put himself in massive debt in order to complete the project, to no avail 

‘I always looked at it and thought it would be so cool to knock it down and build a lighthouse,’ said Edward, speaking of how he decided to revamp their existing property.

From £6million debt to a wrecked marriage: Timeline of how Chesil Cliff House went from home of dreams to a nightmare 

2010:  Edward and his wife Hazel appear on Grand Designs to reveal their plan to turn their 1950s home into an art-deco white lighthouse in 18 months. Plans for the development were submitted and approved but several delays ensued. 

2012: Spiralling costs and the financial crisis puts the project on hold. 

2014: Building work finally gets underway, but is hit by delays due to the weather and financial woes.

2016: Edward secures a loan for more than £2million from private investors 

2017: Project is halted again after the pair run out of money.  

2018: Couple apologise to local residends who complain the unfinished building is an eyesore

2019:  Edward appears on Grand Designs again, admitting that only a few rooms have been finished and that his marriage to Hazel has collapsed under the strain

2021: Building work started again at the property and Edward said he hopes it will be finished by the end of the year

2022: Property is listed for sale for £10 million. Edward said his family are ‘proud’ of what he has achieved 

‘Once you get a dream like that in your head it just doesn’t budge. It’s just one of those spots where you could expect to find that type of building.’

The couple planned to build the luxury home, comprising a huge circular tower and spectacular glass-edge infinity pool, in just 18 months.

The six-bedroom house, which they hoped would also feature a home cinema, a sauna and steam room, would boast panoramic views across Croyde Bay to the north, as well as to Saunton beach and Braunton Burrows to the south.

They hoped it would cost £2.2 million, but it quickly became apparent the build was near-impossible to complete. The house required complex engineering, with the couple sinking 25 ‘anchors’ into the rock in order to support the home.

But by February 2012, the financial crisis meant they had to put plans on hold and they started to build a smaller building further along the coastline which they nicknamed the ‘eye’.

In February 2016, Edwards secured a loan of £2.5million from private investors, which he admitted he was depending on to finish the build.

He told Grand Designs’ host Kevin the project had become a nightmare, saying: ‘Terrifying is an adjective that doesn’t really sum it up if I’m honest.’

When Kevin asked if he could have compromised, Edward said: ‘You are right but the concept is very difficult to walk away from. No to compromise. To owe over £2million now is scary you think ‘Christ this is mounting up’.’ With the financial pressure growing, Hazel said she was becoming increasingly worried.

She said: ‘Worse case scenario is we will have to sell the whole thing. Yes, that’s a scary thing and yes, that keeps me up at night.’

With debts of over three million, the couple were trapped by the thought that if they were to finish the project, it could end up selling for £7million.

But when Kevin returned to the property in 2019, he found it was still unfinished. The presenter described it as ‘the bare bones of a house and more like a desolate carcass’.

He went on to say: ‘It’s a little bit like finding the wreckage of a building on a seashore’.

Edward said: ‘I’ve had better days I must admit. It all came to a halt in June, July 2017. I ran out of money.’

He revealed: ‘A bit of an eyesore is the feeling at the moment. I sometimes wonder if I might have been too ambitious. There’s what I want, and there’s reality.’

At the time, he told Kevin his marriage had collapsed due to the strain, insisted he would still try to finish the building.

He said: ‘I don’t have the option of not finishing. To finish it may take over £2 million.

‘This is a beast, this is a baby that is so hungry it will eat me. It’s that savage now. The end-game could still be bankruptcy. If there is one huge guilt I have over everything, it’s the impact on my family.’

The couple, who lived in a fairly modest house on the clifftop (pictured) before they started the build, explained they wanted a house which would do the site 'justice'

The couple, who lived in a fairly modest house on the clifftop (pictured) before they started the build, explained they wanted a house which would do the site ‘justice’ 

He said the build had destroyed his marriage, saying: ‘We parted properly last year. I put her through a horrendous time with this, knocking the family home down, putting all our money into it, no one has any idea what the outcome is.

‘It doesn’t get much worse than that. I have to take it on the chin – my ambitioned vanity has probably collapsed the marriage. That’s the truth.’

At the time, viewers were shocked by Edward’s attitude, with one writing: ‘Christ, a perfectly good home demolished, a beautiful cliff destroyed, family life in ruins, and divorce. Has there ever been a more tragic Grand Designs?’

Another added: ‘I never want to wish ill on anyone but I’ve never wanted anyone to fail more than this greedy, entitled family.’ A third said: ‘Honestly this couple on #GrandDesigns go bankrupt I won’t even feel bad for them. This is potentially the most irresponsible and greedy build I’ve ever seen.’

Grand Designs airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.  

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