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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Alexander Smail

Grand Designs Edinburgh couple slammed by viewers after 'destroying' historic bothy

Last night's episode of Grand Designs left viewers unimpressed, after the Edinburgh couple featured in the show made major renovations to a historic bothy and its walled garden in Perth and Kinross.

The episode of the Channel 4 programme saw Ian and Jenny Shillady buy the Grade II listed bothy and spend £400,000 converting it into a modern family home.

The 150-year-old Briglands property now boasts a large, black minimalist modern extension.

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Host Kevin McCloud was vocal in his concerns regarding whether such a major renovation would mess with the visual appeal of the estate - last touched in 1898.

Host Kevin McCloud in front of the new sleek house (Channel 4)

"If you mess with great buildings then you risk messing with our shared culture,” he said.

His reaction was shared by other residents on the estate - as well as viewers of the programme.

One Twitter user said: "How in heaven's name did he get permission to do this? Nothing short of vandalism - that beautiful garden. And that horrible black box."

Another wrote: "Absolute cultural VANDALISM what they did to that beautiful old established walled garden. ZERO sympathetic restoration whatsoever!"

They added: "These kind of arrogant townies should go back to build their monstrosities in the city!"

"That black cladding really not working for me. Too much of a clash. Looks like a packing box," commented a third.

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