‘It’s a monstrosity!’ Couple who went £160,000 over budget by splashing out £710,000 transforming their modest bungalow into a ‘gigantic, light-blocking eyesore’ are slammed by Grand Designs viewers

• Couple Davi and Matt purchased the house for £800,000 in Hertfordshire- but decided to tear it down 
• They instead built a contemporary home, complete with a black flint-clad exterior and a statement skylight
• The couple wanted to build an ‘Australian and Zimbabwean inspired’ house to reflect their nationalities 
• However, the property ‘ruffled locals’, who insisted ‘it’s too different’ from their own suburban homes

Grand Designs viewers have been left gobsmacked by a couple who knocked down an inoffensive bungalow to create a ‘monstrosity and eyesore’ property in a picturesque suburban neighbourhood for £710,000 – after going £160,000 over budget.

Davi and Matt purchased the house for £800,000 in Hertfordshire – but decided to tear it down to make way for a contemporary family home, complete with a black flint-clad exterior and a statement skylight.

The couple wanted to build an ‘Australian and Zimbabwean inspired’ house to reflect their nationalities – but when submitting designs for planning permission, the property ‘ruffled locals’, who insisted ‘it’s too different’ from their own homes.

However, permission was granted and the duo hoped to complete the new house in nine months, at a cost of £550,000. Yet, they went over budget by £160,000 and took 17 months to finish their dream home.

Twitter users were left unimpressed following the final tour of the property, with one writing: ‘Feel sorry for the neighbours living next to that monstrosity. The bungalow they knocked down look far nicer.’

Grand Designs viewers have been left gobsmacked by a couple who knocked down an inoffensive bungalow to create a ‘monstrosity and eyesore’ property (pictured) in a picturesque suburban neighbourhood for £710,000 – after going £160,000 over budget

Davi and Matt purchased the house for £800,000 in Hertfordshire – but decided to tear it down (pictured) to make way for a contemporary family home, complete with a black flint-clad exterior and a statement skylight

 Reaction: Social media users were left less than impressed by the finished property and took to Twitter to share their views

Another said: ‘Like how the f*** did this get planning permission? It’s huge, completely blocks out light and view for the neighbours, it’s really oppressive. It looks nothing like the surrounding houses.’

A third added: ‘They have devalued their neighbours’ properties with that gigantic disproportionate, light-blocking, privacy-invading eyesore. Flat roofs are a nightmare too. They always end up leaking. Epic fail.’

A fourth wrote: ‘Love Grand Designs but sometimes wonder how some of these houses have got planning permission’.

As is usually the case with a Grand Designs build, the project didn’t initially go to plan – including two weeks of poor weather at the beginning which washed out the site, as well as buying windows before the walls had even been built.

The couple (pictured) wanted to build an ‘Australian and Zimbabwean inspired’ house to reflect their nationalities – but when submitting designs for planning permission, the property ‘ruffled locals’, who insisted ‘it’s too different’ from their own homes

However, permission was granted and the duo hoped to complete the new house in nine months, at a cost of £550,000. Yet, they went over budget by £160,000 and took 17 months to finish their dream home (pictured)

As is usually the case with a Grand Designs build, the project didn’t initially go to plan – including two weeks of poor weather at the beginning which washed out the site, as well as buying windows before the walls had even been built

Twitter users were left unimpressed following the final tour of the property, with one writing: ‘Feel sorry for the neighbours living next to that monstrosity. The bungalow they knocked down look far nicer.’

Even when the build started to take shape, one neighbour told presenter Kevin McCloud: ‘It doesn’t [fit in on the street]. I think it just looks horrible.’ 

Parents-of-two Davi and Matt decided to project manage the build themselves – despite being city office workers – and were hit with problems throughout.

They had to deal with increasing costs due to 2021 shortages, and wrong measurements meant the structure was out at one point.  

Even when the build started to take shape, one neighbour told presenter Kevin McCloud (pictured left): ‘It doesn’t [fit in on the street]. I think it just looks horrible’

Parents-of-two Davi and Matt decided to project manage the build themselves – despite being city office workers – and were hit with problems throughout. Pictured, one of the bedrooms

They had to deal with increasing costs due to 2021 shortages, and wrong measurements meant the structure was out at one point. Pictured, another bedroom

In the end, the couple went over their budget by £160,000 and told Kevin that ‘the tribe came good’, explaining that their family had helped them with the additional costs to finish their dream home.

The property included a statement skylight, a modern open-plan kitchen, a private sculpture garden and offices on the ground floor.

Yet Matt admitted the stress from the project was ‘still pretty raw’ when speaking to presenter Kevin following the completion of the build after 17 months. 

Grand Designs returns next Wednesday at 9pm on Channel 4 and is available to watch on All 4 

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