A controversial house for Grand Designs, in which the neighbors lived under framework for five years, has never been occupied – and the locals have since referred to it as the “glorified greenhouse”.
The property made of glass, which was selected by Channel 4 host Kevin McCloud, was “breathtaking” when the show was broadcast last year.
For those who lived nearby, however, the ambitious build was less inspiring – and the neighbors branded it as a “eyesore” and “a great place to grow tomatoes”.
The Zahid Iqbal project, 61, and his wife Ferzana, 57, was built in 2019 as a ambitious plan to convert a dilapidated coastal guard tower into a modern, three -story retreat with panoramic processes.
A 10 -month build attracted five chaotic years – with endless delays, planning errors and high -towering scaffolding, who live through the home of neighbors in the adjacent cottages of the 19th century.
Now it has turned out that the house has never been occupied, whereby speculation among the locals is widespread that the plush pillow could soon be offered for sale.
Vic Crosthwaite, 83, the long-term neighbor, whose ordeal of Grand designs of the design of his home was dragged with construction works and then put into the shade by the later new building, he had learned to ignore property.
Mr. Crosthwwaite, whose home shares a party builder with the structure, said: “We understood that they would move in, but there were no signs of them.
A controversial home of Grand Designs was called “a glorified greenhouse” by iRate neighboring
During his construction, the neighbors lived that they lived under framework for five years. Image: The former Flamborough Coast Guard Station
The striking glass mobile is located on the cliffs of East Yorkshire
Vic Crosthwaite, 83, the long-term neighbor, whose torture was pulled by Grand Designs viewers after eating his home by design work
“I saw her once when they made coffee across the street, and that was it.
“There is gossip that it is offered for sale. But nobody is ever there. It's just empty.
“I try to ignore it as much as I can. I was surrounded by scaffolding for five years and it still doesn't look like it was ready.
“What is frustrating is that your windows overlook my terrace. They told me that they would darken the glass or put on film, but they don't.
“You can practically see from the stairs to my bedroom.”
Mr. IQBal from Leeds bought the site for 175,000 GBP and donated an estimated 375,000 GBP into the project, which was interspersed with planning questions and structural errors.
The keys from glass for the panoramic windows did not fit, while the company that looked at the glass missed an e -mail in which he was asked about bird protection because it had gone into their junk folder.
Neighbors in picturesque flamborough said that the property had not remained in the following completion and the owners had not been seen after the show.
Guy Raynor-Edwards, 63, said: “It only sat there. Nobody comes back.
“I don't think it was really about living here. I felt that it was more like:” Look how clever I am, see how much money I have. “
“He put a goal on it, but nobody goes in or out. If he runs the heating automatically, it has to freeze there.
“They said it was for the daughter, this calm little bolzen hole for her, but I don't think she was ever here.
“I like to be wrong, but we all know everyone up here. You would notice if someone came back.
“You see cars that slow down, the people who said:” Oh, that's the one from the television. “But most of them just look at it and say:” What is it? “You have all these beautiful cottages, then this thing was in the end.
“It is completely in contradiction to the rest.”
The project was built by the wealthy shopping center Zahid Iqbal, 61, and his wife Ferzana (57) and began in 2019 in 2019
Neighbor Guy Raynor-Edwards believes that the house has not been occupied
The locals suggested that the house may not meet any building regulations, since external glass doors are on two floors without balconies (shown).
The locals suggested that the house may not meet any building regulations, since external glass doors are on two floors without balconies, while the impact wrap is not yet equipped with a balustrade.
Another neighbor who only gave her name as Jen added: “If you look at it, there are doors on the two upper floors that cannot be opened. People just went and failed. I don't think they were thinking about it.
“And although it is a very architecturally impressive structure, I am not sure whether this is the right place for it.
“If it had been somewhere else – ten miles down the street without neighbors – it might have worked. But this is a historical village. '
“It is impressive, it's just not in the right place.”
Another neighbor Lee Dell, 80, was less enthusiastic and bluntly described the building as a “crap”.
He said: “It is a glorious greenhouse. I think it's garbage. At the beginning there are doors directly to the golf course. There is nothing to prevent someone from falling out.
“Someone should come and put it down.”
Mr. Dell, a retired plumber who has lived in the village for 26 years, added: “Since they are finished, I have never seen someone who came back on it.
“It would not surprise you to sell it.”
Neighbors say that the owners were not seen after the show was broadcast
The striking property shot the heads of the tourists who visit the area
Mr. Iqbal had tried to destroy the existing coastal guards tower at auction while building a new structure with a “mega cantilever” and doubling the area.
But nine months after the ten -month project, and the family had just started tearing down the original structure based on an unfortunate ground survey.
A second blow followed quickly when her son Yusuf, who had cited the project, decided to go.
Mr. Iqbal was then at risk of losing his investment of £ 175,000 after a planning officer had completely switched off the project.
He had applied for a conversion – but everything that was left of the original structure was the wall shared with her neighbor.
After the loss of everything, the three -person father had accepted a new planning request and the project was continued.
However, the lack of detailed plans as well as delays, including pandemic and terrible weather, meant that the construction took half a decade.
In conversation with the Yorkshire Post last September, Mr. Iqbal said: “It is a place for the family and I think it's the first big design that is a second home.
“I'm so satisfied with it. It came out exactly as we had hoped. '
“It's not about the building, it's about where it is. For us, the exciting thing was always nature – what you can see. The largest part is what the building shows you what it frames. '
“As I said to Kevin, I wanted to build something that creates the discussion.
“There will be people who are absolutely loathe and people who love it. Buildings should cause reactions. As long as someone has an opinion – this means that they can take the trouble to look at. '
Nigel and Sue Lenton were expressed
Nigel and Sue Lenton were their opinion that Flamborough visited on vacation from their home in Somerset.
Nigel, 67, said: “I like it. I like the glass and the symmetry and the contrast between black and white.
“I don't think it fits into the houses of the neighbors – but I like it alone.”
Sue, 76, added: 'It is such a shame that nobody uses it because it has to have costs for construction.
“In a way, it's a bit like a white elephant.”
At the broadcast in September in September, Mr. McCloud was enthusiastic about the panoramic view of the building, while he nodded the original purpose of the building.
Kevin said: “It absolutely speaks of what was here. This building still has the spirit of the coast guard. It is pretty heroic as it looks at sea. It is born again. '