Grand Designs viewers were left horrified after a couple spent £7million building a modern castle, only for many to say it looked like a car park, prison or nuclear bunker
Grand Designs viewers were left stunned after a couple spent around £7 million building what was billed as the UK’s first new castle in 100 years, only for many to say it looked like a multi storey car park.
The jaw dropping project featured on Grand Designs and followed entrepreneur Piers Daniell and police officer Emma as they took on one of the show’s most ambitious builds yet.
In 2021, the couple bought a converted 17th century folly in Warwickshire for £1.4 million. They then demolished it, to the horror of locals who had long admired the landmark, which could be seen for miles around.
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Their original budget was £2 million. The plan was to build a modern castle, but costs quickly spiralled to around £7 million to date. The partially completed structure shown to host Kevin McCloud was an ultra modern take on a castle, built from recycled bricks and fitted with what many viewers thought looked like PVC windows.
Viewers were brutal online. One wrote on X that it looked like a “multi storey car park”. Another branded it “the ugliest building I’ve ever seen”, comparing it to “a cross between a prison and a nuclear bunker”. A third said: “Is it a prison? Is it a college? Is it a power station? No it’s a ‘castle’.” While a fourth added: “Money can’t buy taste.”
Another said: “The exterior fits right in. It’s part Tesco’s car park, part Marbella new money villa, part new build housing association edgy architecture, part ergonomic adventure playground, part Acropolis and ALL ‘we’re richer then you’.” One viewer also questioned the finish, writing: “Is that white PVC windows!? Money doesn’t buy taste.”
However, not everyone hated it. One more positive fan said: “It seems I am in a minority tonight but I think the castle in Grand Designs is going to be amazing. Fair play to the couple going all in with their vision. I hope they get to keep it.”
The scale of the project was enormous. The castle measures nearly 1,100 square metres and uses 25,000 blocks, 14,000 fake tiles and 81 windows.
Early on, disaster struck. The old building turned out to be riddled with asbestos, creating £100,000 of unforeseen costs. It also took an extra four weeks before it was safe to demolish, a huge blow given their workforce was costing £10,000 a month.
Locals were furious about the demolition of the original folly, which had been built on the advice of the Prince Regent to Lord and Lady Hertford at the end of the 17th century.
One said on the show: “I’m absolutely aghast. I can’t believe that they would demolish such a lovely building.” Another added: “I’m devastated, whatever comes in its place is going to be a hard task to follow.”
Piers disagreed, calling the original structure a “horrible looking building” made from “pebble dash”, though he said they would salvage everything possible. Kevin warned: “This place is damp, cold and miserable, very much out of date. But that’s not an excuse to tear a piece of history down.”
After demolition finally began in January 2022, finances continued to unravel. By March 2023, the couple had spent £1.1 million on groundworks alone, double what they expected.
Banks refused a mortgage. Piers sold multiple businesses, his London flat, a south coast home and even his car. He also asked his mother Trisha for a six figure loan from her pension.
“Asking them to gamble their future on a project I don’t really need to do is a big ask,” he admitted, while Trisha worried he was “overdoing it”. By late 2024, a shell of the castle finally stood. Piers admitted the true cost would be closer to £7 million.
In despair, the couple agreed with lenders to put the castle up for sale, meaning there was no guarantee they would ever live there with their two daughters. When Kevin returned in September 2025, the castle was still unfinished.
Piers said it was “probably 50/50” whether they could keep it. Now named Alcester Castle, the property is on the market for £7.95 million with Sotheby’s. With eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and more than 11,500 square feet, it is still described as “set for final completion”. Despite everything, the couple insist they have no regrets, believing they have built something that will be there in “500 years.”
