The infamous Grand Designs “Lighthouse” in North Devon has finally been sold, closing the book on one of British TV’s most dramatic property sagas.
The striking clifftop self-build home, officially known as Chesil Cliff House, became a national talking point after a decade-long build left its owner millions in debt and unable to move in.
Savills, who handled the sale, confirmed: “Savills marketed the property for sale between January and October 2024 which resulted in a sale being secured and completed in October 2024.”
The sale marks a turning point in a story that has fascinated - and at times shocked - viewers for more than a decade.
From £10 million to £5.25 million
Originally the Grand Designs Lighthouse was listed for £10 million, but the property’s asking price was cut almost in half to £5.25 million in early 2024.
The reduction followed the discovery of serious structural issues with an older driveway built in the 1960s, which serves the adjoining annexe, “The Eye.”
The collapsing edges made it unsafe to use and caused multiple sales to fall through. Owner Edward Short even considered borrowing £2 million to repair the drive before a buyer was found.
The ‘saddest ever’ Grand Designs episode
The Lighthouse’s story was first told on Grand Designs in what viewers dubbed the “saddest ever” episode.
Short began the ambitious project aiming to complete it in 18 months with a £1.8 million budget, but instead it stretched to 12 years, cost between £5.5 million and £6 million, and ultimately contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Hazel.
The project sat idle for years before work resumed and was finally completed in 2023, though Short was never able to live there.
An architectural feat despite the chaos
Perched dramatically above the Devon coastline, Chesil Cliff House is anchored into the cliff face with panoramic views of Croyde Bay.
The three-acre estate includes a four-storey tower, five bedrooms, four reception rooms, a cinema, sauna, cellar, 60ft infinity pool, and a private beach cove, making it one of Grand Design's best houses.
Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud described the completed build as “a defiant monument to perseverance” and admitted he was “mystified” that Short had managed to finish it at all.
With the keys now in new hands, the sale finally closes the chapter on a saga that has gripped viewers, property watchers, and locals alike for more than a decade.
