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GRAND DESIGNS - CHELTENHAM

Back tonight (Wednesday 16 Jan) on Channel 4 @ 9.00pm is the not to be missed (and contender for our favourite show on the box) Grand Designs, hosted by the very likable Kevin McCloud, episode one focuses on Tim and Zoë Bawtree, who aim to become mortgage free by building an ultra modern, low maintenance house in their large back garden of their Cheltenham town house. However the garden is surrounded by grade two listed houses, and because of height restrictions, Tim and Zoë are forced to build 60% of their new home underground. This doesn't deter them, and neither do 90 objections to their planning application from the neighbours.

The build is fraught with problems from the start. First, there's a worry that the earth from the neighbours' gardens will collapse back into the huge hole they dig for the house. Then, keen on new technology, Tim opts to build the entire house out of polystyrene and waterproof concrete, even though his builders are unfamiliar with the system.

They have to deal with a leaking basement, opposition from the neighbours, and planning wrangles. But all these problems are overshadowed when they part company with their builder and Tim and Zoë are forced to take over the build themselves. Grand Designs: Trade Secrets follows on More4.

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