Controversial Grand Designs project compared to a ‘prison’ by angry locals

• A Grand Designs project in Wixford, Warwickshire, to construct a modern "castle" has generated considerable local backlash.
• The 11,000 square foot structure, the largest ever featured on the Channel 4 programme, involved demolishing a 17th-century folly, drawing comparisons to a "prison" or "car park" from residents.
• The couple behind the build, Piers and Emma, saw their budget spiral from an initial £2m to £5m, with an estimated further £1m needed to finish the project.
• The unfinished "21st-century castle" is now listed for sale with Sotheby’s Realty for £7.95m, with the listing saying “final completion expected in 2025”.
• Local villagers expressed strong, often negative, opinions about the "vanity project," though some found the ambitious build impressive.

IN FULL

Grand Designs ‘castle’ sparks local fury after going on the market for nearly £8m