A distinctive clifftop house in Criccieth, North Wales, that featured on Grand Designs and in I'm a Celebrity is at risk of falling into the sea after a nearby landslide, its owners and planning documents show.
The owners of the award-winning property, known as Cefn Castell, have submitted an application for cliff-stabilisation work to local planners, saying coastal erosion has placed the house under what the application describes as an "immediate threat." The bid seeks permission for engineering measures intended to shore up the cliff and prevent the home from collapsing into the waters off the Welsh coast.
Cefn Castell, which has been valued at about £1.3 million, was built by Rob and Kay Hodgson and first shown on Grand Designs in 2014, with presenter Kevin McCloud following the project. The house was designed by Manchester-based Stephenson Studio and incorporates stone salvaged from a 400-year-old cottage; its design drew on maritime themes and the look of coastal observation stations, according to earlier coverage of the build.
The Hodgsons, who oversaw construction in 2014, previously expressed confidence in the building's longevity, saying at the time it would stand for 140 years. The current planning documents and applicants point to recent ground movement and a landslip close to the property as the immediate cause for concern and the need for stabilisation works.
The application asks planners to approve engineering measures along the cliff face to arrest erosion and reduce the risk to the house. Details in the submission describe the extent of the slip and propose remedial works designed to reinforce the cliff and protect the dwelling above.
Cefn Castell has attracted attention both for its architectural ambition and its exposed position overlooking the sea. Grand Designs followed the project as a high-profile example of contemporary architecture on a challenging coastal site; the house's appearance on I'm a Celebrity further increased its public profile. Comment in coverage at the time highlighted both the creativity of the design and the acknowledged risks of building so close to an eroding coastline.
Coastal erosion has increasingly been a concern for properties around the British coastline, with local authorities and homeowners sometimes seeking engineering solutions to protect land and buildings. Planning authorities typically weigh the immediate safety risks and the potential environmental impacts of coastal protection works when considering applications.
The planning application for Cefn Castell remains under consideration. The owners have framed the proposed works as necessary to avert an imminent danger to the property; planners will review the technical assessments, proposed engineering measures and any environmental implications before reaching a decision.