Edward Short, who appeared on Grand Designs' 'saddest ever' episode after his dream to build a luxury lighthouse in North Devon left him in £4 million worth of debt with an unfinished house and a collapsed marriage, has now said he hopes to complete the build by August or September 2020.
Edward, owner of Chesil Cliff House in Croyde, appeared on Wednesday night’s episode (9th October) of the popular Channel 4 show hosted by Kevin McCloud, which followed Edward, his wife Hazel and their two daughters Lauren and Nicole over eight years, as he pursued his 'little boy’s dream' of a white art deco lighthouse along the rugged clifftop.
The six-bedroom lighthouse was to feature an 18 metre infinity pool, cinema, 9ft high windows, and a glazed observation room at the top of the tower with uninterrupted views to the sea beyond.
The episode saw Edward and Hazel attempt to build what turned out to be two houses (the lighthouse and a single storey property called The Eye), knock down their original 1950s family home, and borrow millions of pounds in the process. But by July 2017, the project spiralled out of the control – the lighthouse site closed after Edward ran out of money and had problems with funding.
The episode ended with an adamant Edward telling Kevin that he would, in some way, finish the project. Only if he does, Edward won’t be living in the house he dreamed so fondly of – as he’ll now have to sell it to cover the substantial amount of money he has borrowed to build it.
But now, Edward is said to be very close to securing funding to finish the building, so much so, that building work could start again by the end of this month.
'I can't say too much at this stage but we are close to a new finance deal,' Edward has since told The Scotsman. 'All being well it could be finished by August or September next year.'
For the last few years, the half finished building has been an eyesore for locals. 'I won't deny it, in it's current state it is horrendous – it's an ugly eyesore and it's not nice to be associated with that,' Edward explains. 'But I am confident I can finish it.'
The eight-year project also put a strain on Edward and Hazel’s marriage. They split last year and it's something Edward told Kevin that he felt 'guilt' about, explaining that his 'ambition and vanity' caused the marriage to end.
Edward says the project has been a 'horrendous strain' for Hazel, telling The Scotsman: 'I have sunk our family purse into this and I really feel for her. I never meant to put her through any of this.'
Edward and Hazel are now both renting property in nearby Bideford, with Edward revealing to Mail Online in another interview: 'My biggest motivation is to get out of this and buy her a nice house.'
• Grand Designs, Wednesdays, 9pm, Channel 4.
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