This Wednesday, “Grand Designs” sets sail on Channel 4 with a project that’s either brilliantly ambitious or utterly bonkers – maybe a bit of both. Howard and Sarah have set their sights on a rather unique self-build: a sleek, metallic floating home on a tidal estuary near Worthing. Think boat meets house, permanently moored within a houseboat community.
Their vision is striking – an open-plan living area upstairs with expansive views of the estuary, plus a lower deck featuring bedrooms for the kids, a home office, and even a cinema room. But the execution? That’s where things get complicated. The structure will sit atop a somewhat experimental prefabricated polystyrene slab, designed to rise and fall with the tides. Add to that the removal of a condemned D-Day landing craft from the site, the constant shifting tides, and the need to crane materials over a sea defence wall, and you’ve got a recipe for potential disaster.
With a budget of £385,000 and an 18-month timeline, Howard and Sarah are tackling a significant chunk of the work themselves. Will their dream home stay afloat, or will the tides – and the budget – wash away their ambitions? Tune in to Channel 4 on Wednesday, 26 March at 9:00 PM to see if they can defy the odds.
