Man on George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations puts home on sale for £2.5 million

A self-builder who spent £650,000 transforming a £660,000 former glassworks into a stunning modern home on George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations has revealed how the property is now on the market for £2.5million – meaning he’ll gain a £1.19million profit following a successful sale.

Hospitality worker James, from Brighton, and his Spanish girlfriend Ellie appeared on the Channel 4 programme yesterday, where he revealed he bought the empty shell of the former 1818 stables in 2015 for £660,000.

Meeting presenter George in 2019, he explained he was finally ready to start renovating it into a dream home for a budget of £500,000 in just eight months – but it wasn’t long before the project became hampered by difficulties, including the Covid-19 pandemic and budget restrictions.

James admitted he ended up spending £650,000 and three years on the project – during which time he was slammed by his project manager Jeff as ‘a mad scientist’.

Jeff said: ‘He is the vision. He just sees stuff that he wants to achieve and we have to have that vision with him, no matter how we achieve it and how long it takes… When this is finished Dr Frankenstein will have his monster.’

At the end of the programme, James revealed he had been forced to put the property up for sale, with the house currently available to buy on RightMove for £2.5million.

A self-builder who spent £650,000 transforming a £660,000 former glassworks into a stunning modern home (pictured) on George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations has revealed how the property is now on the market for £2.5million – meaning he’ll gain a £1.19million profit following a successful sale

Hospitality worker James, from Brighton, and his Spanish girlfriend Ellie appeared on the Channel 4 programme yesterday, where he revealed he bought the empty shell of the former 1818 stables (pictured) in 2015 for £660,000

Hospitality worker James, from Brighton, and his Spanish girlfriend Ellie appeared on the Channel 4 programme yesterday, where he revealed he bought the empty shell of the former 1818 stables (pictured) in 2015 for £660,000

Meeting presenter George in 2019, he explained he was finally ready to start renovating it into a dream home (pictured) for a budget of £500,000 in just eight months - but it wasn't long before the project became hampered by difficulties, including the Covid-19 pandemic and budget restrictions

Meeting presenter George in 2019, he explained he was finally ready to start renovating it into a dream home (pictured) for a budget of £500,000 in just eight months – but it wasn’t long before the project became hampered by difficulties, including the Covid-19 pandemic and budget restrictions

James admitted he ended up spending £650,000 and three years on the project (pictured) - during which time he was slammed by his project manager Jeff as 'a mad scientist'

James admitted he ended up spending £650,000 and three years on the project (pictured) – during which time he was slammed by his project manager Jeff as ‘a mad scientist’

The Regency Muse was built around 1818 and originally used as a stable, designed to build horse and carts of local tenants in the Regency Square.

There are clues of it becoming a veterinary and then a car workshop. But by the mid 20th century, it had become a glass factory making leaded windows for Brighton’s grand terraces. It continued to run as a factory until shortly before James bought the abandoned building in 2015.

Meeting George in March 2019, James laid out his ambitions, explaining: ‘This is an old Victorian glass factory, it’s been abandoned for 20 years. I’ve had my heart set on this building for 20 years and I’ve owned it for four years. But the whole of that time, I’ve been wanting to make this into my own home.’

George told him he’d taken on ‘one hell of a project’.

James confessed he did think he was looking at it ‘through rose tinted glasses’, adding: ‘When you get inside and  see the plants grown inside and the pigeon poo everywhere…’

Decades of British sea-side weather had taken it’s toll on the exterior of the battered glass factory. But inside ,the potential of the building was obvious. 

At the end of the programme, James revealed he had been forced to put the property (pictured) up for sale, with the house currently available to buy on RightMove for £2.5million

At the end of the programme, James revealed he had been forced to put the property (pictured) up for sale, with the house currently available to buy on RightMove for £2.5million

The Regency Muse was built around 1818 and originally used as a stable, designed to build horse and carts of local tenants in the Regency Square. Pictured, after the renovation

The Regency Muse was built around 1818 and originally used as a stable, designed to build horse and carts of local tenants in the Regency Square. Pictured, after the renovation

There are clues of it becoming a veterinary and then a car workshop. But by the mid 20th century, it had become a glass factory making leaded windows for Brighton's grand terraces. It continued to run as a factory until shortly before James bought the abandoned building in 2015. Pictured, a bedroom after the renovation

There are clues of it becoming a veterinary and then a car workshop. But by the mid 20th century, it had become a glass factory making leaded windows for Brighton’s grand terraces. It continued to run as a factory until shortly before James bought the abandoned building in 2015. Pictured, a bedroom after the renovation

Meeting George in March 2019, James laid out his ambitions, explaining: 'This is an old Victorian glass factory, it's been abandoned for 20 years. I've had my heart set on this building for 20 years and I've owned it for four years. But the whole of that time, I've been wanting to make this into my own home.' Pictured, the property recently

Meeting George in March 2019, James laid out his ambitions, explaining: ‘This is an old Victorian glass factory, it’s been abandoned for 20 years. I’ve had my heart set on this building for 20 years and I’ve owned it for four years. But the whole of that time, I’ve been wanting to make this into my own home.’ Pictured, the property recently

George told him he'd taken on 'one hell of a project'. James confessed he did think he was looking at it 'through rose tinted glasses', adding: 'When you get inside and see the plants grown inside and the pigeon poo everywhere...' Pictured, the top floor following the renovation

George told him he’d taken on ‘one hell of a project’. James confessed he did think he was looking at it ‘through rose tinted glasses’, adding: ‘When you get inside and see the plants grown inside and the pigeon poo everywhere…’ Pictured, the top floor following the renovation

Decades of British sea-side weather had taken it's toll on the exterior of the battered glass factory. But inside ,the potential of the building (pictured) was obvious

Decades of British sea-side weather had taken it’s toll on the exterior of the battered glass factory. But inside ,the potential of the building (pictured) was obvious

Downstairs, James wanted to retain the original layout and create a flexible workspace. On the middle floor, he planned to divide it into four bedrooms, each with its own en-suite. Pictured, the exterior of the building recently

Downstairs, James wanted to retain the original layout and create a flexible workspace. On the middle floor, he planned to divide it into four bedrooms, each with its own en-suite. Pictured, the exterior of the building recently

George called it ‘fantastic’, explaining: ‘It’s beautiful, I love the arches in the ceiling and the columns going down the space. [It’s a] really deep plan actually, much deeper than I thought it would be.’

James added: ‘This was the thing that really attracted me to the building. to find something old and industrial like this but to be so intact. I’ve had a passion for it for a long time. Ellie has had to put up with it!’

But Ellie said she liked it and called the project, his ‘dream’, adding: ‘I feel lucky to get to share it with him.’

Downstairs, James wanted to retain the original layout and create a flexible workspace. On the middle floor, he planned to divide it into four bedrooms, each with its own en-suite. 

 Meanwhile the self-builder said he planned to lower the ceiling of the middle floor, creating a third floor in the stunning loft space. George called the upstairs ‘brilliant’, adding: ‘As tired and gritty and knackered as it is…it’s really cool isn’t it?’

James explained: ‘One of the challenges is I need a bit more space in the third floor. The easy solution is to chop all this stuff out and put it back in, but that’s not really honest to the building and I want to keep this building looking as original as I possibly can.  If I can get this floor down in one go, that’s what I’ll do.’

Meanwhile the self-builder said he planned to lower the ceiling of the middle floor, creating a third floor in the stunning loft space. George called the upstairs 'brilliant', adding: 'As tired and gritty and knackered as it is...it's really cool isn't it?'

Meanwhile the self-builder said he planned to lower the ceiling of the middle floor, creating a third floor in the stunning loft space. George called the upstairs ‘brilliant’, adding: ‘As tired and gritty and knackered as it is…it’s really cool isn’t it?’

James said he was so committed to the factory that - despite it being an expensive decision - he planned to lower the entire ceiling (pictured) in one piece

James said he was so committed to the factory that – despite it being an expensive decision – he planned to lower the entire ceiling (pictured) in one piece

And he didn't plan to waste an inch of space of his future home, instead using the third floor as the main living space, with an open-plan kitchen and roof terrace. Pictured, the property before the renovation

And he didn’t plan to waste an inch of space of his future home, instead using the third floor as the main living space, with an open-plan kitchen and roof terrace. Pictured, the property before the renovation

Work finally began on the project in March 2021 following a two year delay due to the pandemic. Pictured, the property before the renovation

Work finally began on the project in March 2021 following a two year delay due to the pandemic. Pictured, the property before the renovation

It also created a massive upheaval for the couple, because Ellie moved back to Spain to be near her family. So James was splitting his time between Spain and Brighton, leaving builder Jeff in charge of the renovation (pictured)

It also created a massive upheaval for the couple, because Ellie moved back to Spain to be near her family. So James was splitting his time between Spain and Brighton, leaving builder Jeff in charge of the renovation (pictured)

However he confessed he hadn’t figured out quite ‘how do to do it’, adding: ‘For me, this is where the real history is – if I can keep this, it’s going to be quite something special.’

James said he was so committed to the factory that – despite it being an expensive decision – he planned to lower the entire ceiling in one piece. 

And he didn’t plan to waste an inch of space of his future home, instead using the third floor as the main living space, with an open-plan kitchen and roof terrace. 

The ceiling would be clad with wooden batons recycled from the building and crowned with a sky light, while outside there will be a terrace.

George said the plans were ‘big and ambitious’, with James confessing the budget ‘had to be around £500,000’. Meanwhile he revealed he hopes to turn the project around in ‘seven or eight months.’

But George was sceptical, saying: ‘It all depends on the team you get on board, as you know. It’s got to go at the right pace, but the right pace for the building.’

To brace the building, they began by putting new steel beams across the whole property. Jeff said: 'I'm always nervous about days like this, you've got a crane on hire, blocked roads - you want to hope it all fixed.' Pictured, James and Ellie with George

 To brace the building, they began by putting new steel beams across the whole property. Jeff said: ‘I’m always nervous about days like this, you’ve got a crane on hire, blocked roads – you want to hope it all fixed.’ Pictured, James and Ellie with George

From the brickwork and timbers, James was obsessed with retaining every original feature he could salvage - no matter the cost. Pictured, the property recently

From the brickwork and timbers, James was obsessed with retaining every original feature he could salvage – no matter the cost. Pictured, the property recently

Work finally began on the project in March 2021 following a two year delay due to the pandemic. It also created a massive upheaval for the couple, because Ellie moved back to Spain to be near her family.

So James was splitting his time between Spain and Brighton, leaving builder Jeff in charge of the renovation.

He told the camera: ‘I feel like Egyptians building the pyramids – all ropes and pullies. Just we haven’t got 3,000 men.’

Having laid empty for over ten years, rain water had damaged the structure. Jeff said: ‘We’re now trying to stabilise the building and stitch it together before we start doing major construction. We can’t really do too much to her until we get that integrity back. And it is in pretty poor state in some areas.’

To brace the building, they began by putting new steel beams across the whole property. Jeff said: ‘I’m always nervous about days like this, you’ve got a crane on hire, blocked roads – you want to hope it all fixed.’

From the brickwork and timbers, James was obsessed with retaining every original feature he could salvage – no matter the cost.

And Jeff said it had become ‘a huge headache’, continuing: ‘Under normal demolition, we have to not just take the stuff away but here we have to not just demolish it, we take it apart bit by bit so we can reuse it.  Therefore it takes longer labour and longer time. But James is aware of this, so we’ve allowed for that in our build programme.

James dreamed of creating a modern family home in the former stable, which was originally built in 1818, with an open plan space (pictured)

James dreamed of creating a modern family home in the former stable, which was originally built in 1818, with an open plan space (pictured) 

The bottom floor of the property had been transformed into a workshop studio, with James intent on reclaiming the old barn doors (pictured)

The bottom floor of the property had been transformed into a workshop studio, with James intent on reclaiming the old barn doors (pictured)

‘It’s an exciting project, it’s not run of the mill, it’s almost like a heritage project.’ 

When the building was structurally safe, the team began lowering the middle floor to give them the space they needed in the roof. 

In August 2021, three times longer than James’ original schedule, George returned to see how it was evolving.

James confessed it was becoming more difficult than expected, adding: ‘We thought we would start March 2019 and we actually started February 2021. It’s like nothing I’ve experienced before. It’s tricky, trying to do this in two separate countries.’

Meanwhile he said he had received some ‘raised eyebrows’ with his ambitious plans, adding: ‘[People ask] “How do you cost something like that? Is it a week of work or it’s now been four weeks of work?” And it’s still not even finished. My budget has shot through the roof.’

Despite that, he said he hoped to be in three months in the property, but George told him: ‘You’re never going to be in by November!’

Speaking to the builder Jeff, he said: ‘It’s very complex, it’s a very difficult building. It’s one of the worst buildings I think I’ve come across in 25 years of building. 

The ground floor and entrance to the property had been decked out with brickwork and a concrete floor, as well as the original steel structure (pictured)

The ground floor and entrance to the property had been decked out with brickwork and a concrete floor, as well as the original steel structure (pictured) 

George said the plans for the property were 'big and ambitious', with James confessed the budget 'had to be around £500,000'

George said the plans for the property were ‘big and ambitious’, with James confessed the budget ‘had to be around £500,000’

‘And of course, we’ve got out mad scientist in Spain whose finally turned up. He’s the vision. He just sees stuff that he wants to achieve and we have to have that vision with him, no matter how we achieve it and how long it takes.’

And after George called James’ ideas ‘bonkers’, Jeff added: ‘It’s different. When this is finished Dr Frankenstein will have his monster.’

However outside, a problem with the buildings flint façade was jeopardizing the front of the building.

James said:  ‘Every bit of flint has had to come down. Because as we were trying to repair it, we realised we were repairing something that we could push and it would wobble the front of the building.  The only choice was to take it apart and rebuild it, to give it another 100 years of life.’

In true James style, he opted for the most expensive and labour intensive route by resorting and reusing each piece of flint.

A month before his November deadline, James returned to the site to get the project over the finish line. It had been over three years since James started the build – and with costs spiralling and cash flow issues stalling the work, George returned. 

He told the presenter: ‘It’s going to be timed for Christmas. The thing I’m really enjoying is seeing all these specialists and artisans at work. I think it looks pretty good.’

Each of the bedrooms in the property features a trendy en-suite bathroom, with plenty of reclaimed materials on show in the property

Each of the bedrooms in the property features a trendy en-suite bathroom, with plenty of reclaimed materials on show in the property  

Throughout the schedule, James' head builder Jeff called the project 'a huge headache' and 'one of the most difficult buildings he'd ever worked on'

Throughout the schedule, James’ head builder Jeff called the project ‘a huge headache’ and ‘one of the most difficult buildings he’d ever worked on’ 

But despite James confessing he was adamant to move in by the end of the year, George said he felt it was unlikely. 

George told the camera: ‘Even though there is big ticket items like the staircase and the windows, every single room is unfinished – there’s just so much to do.’

And though he was massively over schedule and budget, James said he wasn’t prepared to sacrifice on quality.

He said: ‘I’ve got a sigh of relief that we’ve got all the structural stuff out the way. But it’s the last deep breath before this push – this push, I’ve got to get so much done.’

Three years after he started on the build, James unveiled the finished project to George.  Every last detail had been lovingly bought back to life, from the flint facade and full width doors to the beautiful roof terrace.

James said: ‘It did take a while but it was the kind of building that I wasn’t willing to compromise.’

After George praised the outside flint work, he was wowed by the interiors.  Every surface and detail gleamed like new – the large open plan ground floor retained its identify as a practical workspace that had been kitted out for modern living.

George said: ‘The way you’ve exposed everything, cleaned everything up…it just looks outstanding.’

The main room at the top of the property also featured a poured concrete floor and a wooden ceiling, along with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows

The main room at the top of the property also featured a poured concrete floor and a wooden ceiling, along with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows 

And after George called James' ideas 'bonkers', Jeff said 'when the house is finished, Dr Frankenstein will have his monster' (pictured, the exterior)

And after George called James’ ideas ‘bonkers’, Jeff said ‘when the house is finished, Dr Frankenstein will have his monster’ (pictured, the exterior) 

In the middle floor, what was once a decrepit shell had been revived with stylish bedrooms.  Meanwhile the top floor was filled with light from above and the floor to ceiling windows which lead to the new terrace outside. And the ceiling was beautifully clad in recycled wood from the old building.

James said the hardest part of the build was ‘trying to convince everybody that his ideas were possible.’ He added: ‘It’s a daily thing, “You cant possibly do that! Why are you dragging that out of the skip? You cant lower the floor”…these things.

‘Firstly Covid, trying to build with one hand behind your back, you can’t get materials to sites, day rates are going up, things that were meant to be delivered next week we couldn’t get for three months… Yes it was a lot of effort and it took a heck of a lot more time.’

Meanwhile he confessed he had ended up going £150,000 over his £500,000 budget on the build, before adding: ‘News flash. I’m putting it up for sale.’

James might have gone over budget but he has a more personal reason for selling the property – he decided he needed to be in Spain to be with his girlfriend. James said: ‘It’s not been an easy decision and trust me there are days when I don’t want to let it go.’

But if the property sells for its asking price, James will have more than made his money back – it’s currently for sale for £2.5 million. 

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