After more than a decade of financial struggles and personal devastation, the property widely regarded as the "saddest ever build" to appear on the UK television show Grand Designs has finally found a buyer. Edward Short's ambitious lighthouse conversion project in Devon, England, which was intended to be a luxury dream home, instead became a cautionary tale of construction gone wrong that destroyed his marriage and brought him to the brink of bankruptcy.
Short's project involved transforming an old lighthouse in the coastal village of Croyde into an upscale residence called Chesil Cliff House. What began as an 18-month construction timeline with a budget of £1.8 million (approximately $2.3 million) quickly spiraled into a years-long ordeal that would ultimately cost the 52-year-old entrepreneur far more than he ever anticipated. The property's challenging coastal location significantly drove up construction costs, causing Short's loan to balloon from the original £1.8 million to £2.5 million, and eventually reaching a staggering £4 million.
The ambitious project first appeared on Grand Designs in 2019, where viewers witnessed the early stages of what would become a construction nightmare. The show's host, Kevin McCloud, later revealed that he was more concerned about Short's personal wellbeing than the fate of the property itself during filming. The stress of the prolonged construction process and mounting financial pressures took a severe toll on Short's personal life, ultimately ending his marriage as the project consumed his finances and peace of mind.
After completion, the lighthouse conversion struggled to attract buyers despite its stunning coastal location and unique architectural features. The property initially entered the market in 2022 with an asking price of £10 million (approximately $12.7 million), reportedly catching the attention of pop star Harry Styles. However, even celebrity interest couldn't translate into a sale, forcing Short to reduce the price significantly.
Two years after its initial listing, the asking price was slashed to £5.25 million (approximately $6.7 million), but even this substantial reduction failed to attract a buyer. The financial pressure continued to mount on Short, who revealed that his total debt from the project had reached £7 million at one point. The ongoing stress of the unsold property continued to impact his personal relationships, leading to the end of a new romantic relationship in June.
Chesil Cliff House finally sold in August for £4.35 million (approximately $5.5 million), providing Short with some relief after years of financial uncertainty. Speaking about the sale, Short expressed mixed emotions about the conclusion of his decade-long ordeal. "I've had time to get used to it and I've moved on," he told reporters. "I'm relieved it's all over without a doubt. But there were lots of highs and lows in there, there were some amazing moments."
Reflecting on the personal cost of the project, Short acknowledged the devastating impact it had on his relationships. He described feeling "very sad" about the end of his recent relationship, explaining that his partner had been with him during some of the most challenging financial moments. "It was a difficult period because she was with me when the house went from not selling to bringing me to the verge of bankruptcy – it wasn't easy for her to live through that," he said. Despite the financial and emotional toll, Short maintains that he and his former partner remain friends.
The sale of Chesil Cliff House marks the end of one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking stories ever featured on Grand Designs. The project serves as a stark reminder of how ambitious construction projects can quickly spiral out of control, transforming dreams of architectural achievement into financial and personal nightmares that can take years to resolve.
